Mr. Brian Lucas:

The 2014 review is ongoing, as provided for in the Bill. The result of the first phase of the review were published in 2014. The review must be completed. Hopefully, it will be completed when the Bill is passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The review concluded, on the basis of sound scientific evidence, that there should be a refigured network that would involve the cessation of turf cutting in 36 NHAs, which would remain designated. Those who have had to cease domestic turf cutting on those sites have been provided with compensation by the Department since that time. As stated, seven sites were to be divided with one part to be conserved and another part to be designated. The de-designation of the 46 sites includes the parts of the seven sites to be preserved. They are sites that have been judged on the basis that their conservation potential is expected to be marginal or restoration is considered to be prohibitively expensive relative to the conservation benefits it would achieve. There is still a loss even though the conservation potential these sites is marginal. It is proposed to designate 25 new raised bog sites in public ownership or where there is reduced turf cutting pressure. We will end up with a better network in terms of the area of active and degraded bog and with less cost in terms of paying compensation to turf cutters.