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

We have the national peatlands strategy, which was published in 2016. It is important to point out that if you know anyone who is cutting turf in that way the Department should be told about it. Obviously, there is a balance between the right to cut turf and conservation and the legal obligations of the State. If members are aware of anybody doing it, please let us know.

There have been significant efforts by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of the bogs within the framework of the EU habitats directive, which is the law that covers this area. There has been a long-term compensation scheme in place to compensate active turf cutters for the loss arising from the cessation of turf cutting and we have seen the numbers fall over a number of years. Obviously, some of the habitat is protected, particularly the raised bog, and some of it has been lost over the last 20 years. It is a very nuanced and delicate balance to strike. On the one hand, we wish to protect the land and, on the other, we wish to ensure that turf cutters have a livelihood whereby they can do it without affecting the natural habitat.