John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 75, 88, 172 and 182 together.

Bogs are important natural habitats and are home to unique ecosystems containing rare flora and fauna. Both blanket bogs and raised bogs are protected habitats under European and Irish law and representative samples have been designated as special areas of conservation, SAC, under the habitats directive or natural heritage areas, NHA, under the wildlife Acts.

Ireland has some of the most ecologically important bogs in the European Union. In 1999, when the first of these sites was designated for nature protection, all commercial cutting on these bogs was stopped and the then Minister granted a ten-year grace for those who were cutting turf for their personal domestic use to find alternative sources of fuel. This period expires this year for 32 raised bog SACs.

Blanket bogs, which occur predominantly on the western seaboard but also in County Wicklow and the midlands, can tolerate a certain amount of turf extraction without compromising their value as habitats. It is envisaged that cutting on blanket bog SACs and NHAs can continue, except in sensitive areas, under the current restrictions, which prohibit commercial extraction and the use of sausage peat cutting machines.

Raised bogs occur predominantly in the midlands. There are over 1,500 raised bogs in the State, of which only 139 are designated for nature protection as SACs or NHAs. The continued cutting of turf, by hand or machine, and associated drainage on these designated raised bogs is incompatible with their preservation. Even with the restrictions in cutting introduced in 1999, over one third of the best bog habitat on these sites has been lost in ten years. More needs to be done if we are to meet our obligation to protect this important habitat.

The habitats directive imposes a legal obligation on the State to take measures to ensure the protection of this essential and irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. In the light of scientific evidence, it would not be appropriate to grant an extension to the derogation in these areas. It is necessary to put arrangements in place to facilitate the transition to a full cessation of turf cutting on 32 raised bogs by the end of this year, and on the remaining number of designated raised bogs in 2012 and 2014. My Department will establish an interdepartmental working group to consider how best to achieve these cessations over the coming years and to assess the resources that will be required. This group will consult with interested parties, and report back to me later this year.

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