Bord na Mona have said heavy rain and adverse weather conditions in the first six months of the year have been responsible for the lowest return of peat production in the history of the company.
The head of Bord na Mona's peat energy division said this morning that less than 1% of the company's harvest of peat had been achieved - the lowest return at this point in the season since peat production began in 1958.
Mr Sean Grogan said the company would not be commercially affected by the situation because it has stockpiled a year's reserve of milled peat, but its workforce is already experiencing a severe loss of income.
A production team which would normally be earning up to €20 an hour at the height of the season are still on rates of €9, while 400 casual workers usually taken on for seasonal work in Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Kildare have not been employed so far this year.
