Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I understand the Deputy's desire to raise this matter which is obviously of concern to turf cutters affected by the cessation of cutting.

In 1999, 32 raised bog special areas of conservation, SACs, were designated. At that stage the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands ended commercial turf cutting on these sites but allowed turf cutting for domestic purposes to continue for up to ten years from the date of designation. This was intended to allow turf cutters to find an alternative source of fuel. This period has now expired and a complete cessation of turf cutting on these sites is now required. Further cessation will become necessary in 2012 and 2014 as the ten-year derogation expires on other designated sites. However, ending this derogation will still leave by far the major proportion of all bogs - some 96% - available for turf cutting.

Ireland's raised bogs are important and unique habitats hosting ecosystems that are extremely rare. Because we have a large proportion of the little that remains of this habitat in western Europe, we have a particular responsibility to preserve it. Ireland is required to prevent the loss of habitats of European importance under the Habitats Directive of 1992. Active raised bog is a priority habitat under the directive and Ireland has designated a representative sample of raised bogs for preservation.

A review of the state of our designated raised bogs in the form of examination on the ground has revealed severe and continuing damage caused by domestic turf cutting. This is the result, not only of the physical removal of peat, but of the drainage that is caused in the process. This drainage effectively bleeds the bogs. The result is that the active area, where peat is formed, contracts, and the typical flora disappear. There is, therefore, a very obvious physical loss at the face bank and a less visible, but more extensive, loss of priority habitat across the entire bog.

In the 10 years since commercial cutting was ended in designated areas, some 35% of the remaining area of active raised bog has been lost through domestic cutting and its associated drainage. We are losing a further 2% to 4% of our remaining active raised bog in these sites per annum. It is vital that we halt and reverse this damage, if we are not permanently to lose this irreplaceable ecological resource.

Outside the 32 bogs mentioned, cutting may continue as normal. In particular, blanket bogs, which comprise most of the areas of peatland, are not affected by the arrangements. Of the 1500 -1600 raised bogs in the State, only 130 bog complexes are designated and turf cutting is to cease now on only 32 of these.

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 SACs and NHAs.

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