Fen Restoration FAQs
Project Background
A fen is a type of peat-forming wetland that is primarily fed by groundwater, creating a unique ecosystem that supports a high number of plant, bird and animal species. Fens are crucial for filtering water, storing carbon, and maintaining local water tables. They are also vital for biodiversity, providing habitat for many threatened plant and invertebrate species. Restoration of fens is important to combat the decline of these habitats due to landuse change, drainage, and infilling.
The Tochar Midlands Wetlands Restoration Scheme has identified 36 fen sites from the National Fen Survey inventory for which conservation and restoration management plans will be developed. The NFS indicates that many fen habitats are in unfavourable-inadequate and unfavourable-bad condition, and Tochar is providing technical, scientific and funding support to improve the condition of these important wetlands in the midlands. Actions on the ground are voluntary and 100% funded through the Tochar project, which is co-funded by the EU Just Transition Fund and the Irish government.
Eligibility
An expression of interest is due to open in May 2026 until June 2026. Any landowner with wetland including fens can apply once the wetland is within the eligible territory.
Restoration measures can go ahead in such a way as to not impact on the neighbouring landowner
Restoration surveys, plans and restoration works are all funded through the EU Just Transition Fund and are paid directly by Tochar, not by the landowner. Specific activities cannot be double funded though public or EU funding scheme, so for example, Tochar will not install fencing on a stretch of ground for which other funding is being received by a landowner for fencing in the same location. Ensure that costs and activities do not overlap with other government funded schemes that you are availing of.
The Tochar fens restoration project includes sites that have nature designations such as SACs and NHAs, and sites that have no designations at all. The status does not change once restoration actions have been taken.
Thank you for looking after your fen habitat and maintaining it in good condition. The restoration plan for the overall fen site may still be of interest to you. There may be no incentive payment due to you in this case, as incentive payments are paid to landowners to facilitate restoration measures. You may qualify for payments through current Department of Agriculture Schemes and hopefully in the future for payments for ecosystem services.
Timeline
The first four plans will be available in May 2026 with restoration actions taking place in autumn 2026. A further sixteen plans will be prepared and actioned in 2026. The Tóchar project will deliver the remaining restoration plans by the end of 2026, and schedule as many works as possible with landowner agreement over the lifetime of the project. A project extension to June 2027 has been facilitated by the Managing Authority. However, it is likely that restoration activity will continue beyond the lifeime of Tochar beyond 2027, using alternative funding streams.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service regional staff will continue to be available for advice. Restoration plans will all be published and available.
This will be decided on a site to site basis, which will be communicated with all landowners involved.
There is no “date” assigned to the restoration of fen sites.
Funding and Incentive Payments
No, this project will not impact your ability to sign up for carbon credits. Restored fen sites are carbon sinks.
No, the incentive payment is limited to landowners.
No, the incentive payment is a one-off payment to facilitate access for restoration measures. However, it is always advised to speak to your agricultural advisor regarding payments. [see Double Funding Question]
Yes, this is a once off payment.
Practicalities
The site surveying and monitoring has been contracted to ARUP, who are specialist in hydrogeology and hydrology. ARUP will assess water quality and provide recommendations for water management. Recommendatons could include fencing, installation of vegetated buffers etc.
Once draft restoration plans have been produced by ARUP, they are then reviewed by the Scientific Advice and Research Directive of the NPWS, and shared with NPWS Regional Staff, all while communicating each step of the process with landowners. ARUP will carry out site monitoring and surveys. Contractors who are on Tóchar’s Framework will carry out restoration works, which will be overseen by an ecological clerk of works.
Not necessarily, restoration work recommendations will be unique to each site. In some cases, recommendations may include measures such as light grazing on the site to encourage growth of smaller plants.
Arup hydrogeologists work alongside colleagues in geotechnics, hydrology and other disciplines. Engineers are involved in the design and specification of restoration measures.
Participation
This is a voluntary scheme. If the landowner or farmer does not want to take up the scheme that’s their decision. There is no compulsory involvement.
ARUP are using special GIS platform for the storage of data, which is GDPR Compliant. All landowners who sign up will be notified by letter when works are scheduled to be carried out. If you would like your contact details to be added to the land registry details already securely stored for your land parcel , please contact us.
If your land is not listed for fen restoration, you may have other wetland habitat that could qualify for restoration under the Expression of Interest call. This call will open in May 2026 and close in June 2026. Check the www.tocharwetlands.ie website regularly for the annoucement of the opening of the call.
No, this is not a results-based payment.
This will be reviewed on a site by site basis. If not all landowners sign up, restoration measures may be tailored to suit those who do join without affecting other landowners.
Concerns
Before aerial surveying by drone was undertaken, all landowners received a letter outlining the need for the surveying and details of the companies undertaking the work. Landowners were advised to contact Tóchar if they did not wish to partake in these surveys. In the case of the LiDAR survey by drone, the company, Murphy Geopatial agreed that their vehicles would display their company logo and their personnel would be easily identifiable. LiDAR surveys generally take place from public roads or pull ins, over the adjoining land. Where contact details are available field surveyors call the landowner to seek permission to enter land. If no contact details are available, surveyors seek to identify the landowner on the day of the field surveys to seek permission to enter the land. If permission is not granted, surveyors will not enter the lands.
Where landowner contact details are available, this is possible. However the contact information on file for the landowners within the fen sites is from Land Registry/Tailte Eireann which contain the registered owners name and address only. The data does not include phone numbers. If you wish your phone number to be added to the GDPR compliant GIS platform, please contact us directly.
Yes monitoring of the sites is continuing to ensure a full year of hydrological data is available. LiDAR data has been collected which provide details of all drainage channels onsite.
By the end of the Tóchar project each of the 36 fen sites shall have a comprehensive restoration management plan. This plan can be then proposed to other funding organisations or funding schemes to progress the restoration actions therein.
This project doesn’t affect Turbary Rights.
Public Information Evening Live Recording
A recording of one of our public information evening, featuring presentations on Tóchar Wetland Restoration projects followed by a live Q&A session with attendees.