Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the offer the Minister made in respect of our meeting to discuss this matter. Is he aware of the fact that a number of people in east Galway carried out a study in respect of almost half of the bogs covered by the Fernandez report? This study shows that Fernandez overestimates the loss of bogs by at least 93%. In light of the Minister's acknowledgement that approximately 3% of bogs are in non-State ownership, how is it possible that one third of bogs have disappeared over a ten-year period? Carrowbehy bog in County Roscommon has grown by almost 13%. Even though most of Cloonshanville bog, with which the Minister of State is familiar, is in State ownership, it is alleged that 5.25% of it has disappeared over the ten year period during which very little turf cutting took place.

The figures which are being presented and on which the Minister is basing his decisions simply do not stand up to scrutiny. Everyone accepts the need for preservation. However, I again ask him to reconsider the position in respect of the small percentage of bogs that are not in State ownership.

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