Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Once, I listened to the Ceann Comhairle on the radio discussing one of his favourite poems. He recited it and perhaps he will put Deputy Connaughton's contribution to song some evening. I thank Deputy Connaughton for raising this issue. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, is unable to reply and I do so on his behalf.

The Minister is currently considering proposals for preservation of bogs of high conservation value. I understand that the Minister will bring this issue to Government shortly.

Turf cutting is scheduled to end during 2009 in 32 raised bogs, which would involve a relatively small proportion of turf cutters and not, I am advised, several thousand. Outside these 32 bogs, in other words, in the vast majority of areas, cutting may continue as normal. In particular, blanket bogs, which comprise most of the areas of peatland, are not affected. These arrangements will concern only raised bogs. However, there are between 1,500 and 1,600 raised bogs. Only 139 of these are designated and turf cutting is scheduled to cease during 2009 on 32 of these.

Turf cutting is not prohibited on most bogs, although on special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas cutting must be for domestic or non-commercial purposes and the use of certain machinery, such as sausage machines is not allowed.

Ireland's designated raised bogs are of European importance. Almost all of western Europe's raised bogs have disappeared or been severely damaged. Ireland has approximately 60% of the remaining uncut areas. These are of significant importance to Ireland's and Europe's natural heritage. We are required to protect habitats of European importance under the 1992 habitats directive. This bogland is priority habitat under the directive. It is also protected under our legislation, the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

Within Ireland, as elsewhere, most areas of bog have been severely damaged. This has mainly been caused by turf cutting, but also, in more recent times, by afforestation and over-grazing. Less than 1% of Ireland's active raised bogs remain. These are bogs on which the indigenous flora are still growing and where peat is forming. When arrangements were announced for the cessation of turf cutting on the 32 bogs designated for conservation in 1999, a ten-year grace period was granted to domestic turf cutters. It was intended to allow domestic turf cutters to find an alternative source of fuel. This ten-year period is now ending. A similar ten-year derogation applies to bogs designated after 1999. When natural heritage areas were designated in 2004, under an agreement with the farming organisations, another ten-year derogation was put in place, allowing cutting in these areas until 2014.

Since 1999, the Government has actively encouraged the cessation of domestic cutting by buying the traditional turf-cutting rights through a voluntary scheme of compensation. This covers both special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas. However, a review of the state of our bogs has revealed severe and continuing damage caused by domestic turf cutters. It is the Government's responsibility to ensure Ireland meets its obligations in protecting at least a portion of what remains of this irreplaceable natural heritage. I will ensure Deputy Connaughton's contribution is brought to the attention of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

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