Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the 2017 allocation included €2 million of a capital carryover and €4 million in terms of environment. The reason for the increased expenditure on the subhead in 2017 was to do with capital repairs and maintenance works on foot of adverse weather, floods and storms in the past quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. It was also to facilitate the purchase of a strategic land bank adjacent to Ballycroy national park, which became available during 2017.

Following the review of the turf cutting compensation scheme applications, it became apparent that the 2017 expenditure would exceed the original provision and additional funding was required. There were 2,037 applicants from special areas of conservation bogs and 254 applicants from the natural heritage area, NHA, bogs. There were 73 additional applicants from special areas of conservation, and 318 of the NHA applications were received in 2017. New applications each year are reviewed and assessed for payment also.