Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will ask the local authorities for the information the Senator seeks. The Heritage Council works very well with heritage officers. The reason Heritage Week is such a success is that the Heritage Council is able to connect to local communities through heritage officers.

On the N59 project from Mayo through Connemara to Galway city, this matter is being considered by Galway County Council. The Department addressed the issues that were raised. A revised method statement for the ground investigation works for the Maam Cross to Bunnakill section of the N59 was submitted by Galway County Council to the Department on 28 June last. This was approved on 29 June, which was a quick turnaround. It is understood Galway County Council is assessing tenders for the ground investigation works and hopes to have a contractor on the ground by early October 2017.

On 6 September 2017, the Department received a draft method statement from the council for archaeology testing on the Maam Cross to Bunnakill section and this was approved by my Department on 7 September. We have engaged extensively with the local authority and when it raises matters, we turn them around very quickly because the issue of this road has been raised on many occasions here and I know it is a very important route in the west.

We continue to run the compensation scheme. I consider it a generous scheme for turf cutters. I launched a bog restoration project in Clara a couple of weeks ago which involves examining the restoration of some of the bogs. Again, there is a huge amount of engagement with local communities. It is important that we get buy-in from local communities for this type of work. It is important that we recognise that just because Europe says they are good, does not mean that they are not good. We have a wonderful resource in this country in terms of our bogs and it is a matter of how we can turn this into a positive. Tourism is changing. People want to go on holidays that are healthy and that allow them to enjoy the natural environment. Our bogs are a wonderful resource so this bog restoration project, which is funded by the Department and the EU, will be a new way to engage more people to see the benefits of having restored bogs and all the beautiful flora and fauna they can produce that relate to tourism and other such activities.