John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I appreciate the Deputy's concern and I share his wish to provide clarity to those turf cutters who are affected by the ending of cutting on raised bogs designated for conservation. It is important to point out at the outset that we are talking about only 32 bogs. There are thousands of blanket bogs and other raised bogs out there but, specifically, we are talking about 32 bogs.

The Inter-Departmental Group on Cessation of Turf Cutting in Designated Areas was established by me to examine and make recommendations on all the implications of achieving a cessation of cutting in these sensitive conservation areas. It had been hoped the group would be in a position to report back by the end of October. In the event, this did not prove possible because of the need for widespread and sometimes extended consultations with interested parties, and the need to consider fully the complex legal and administrative issues involved. The group has been very active and has consulted widely. It invited submissions from all interested parties. It met with the organisations representing turf cutting interests as well as conservation organizations. It sought expert advice from within the various Departments, agencies and offices represented on the group. It was not possible to finalise the report of the group while certain important issues remained to be clarified, including legal questions. For the most part, this clarification has now been provided.

I expect to receive the report and recommendations of the group in the coming days. I will then conclude my consideration of the matter under examination as quickly as possible with a view to making proposals to Government without delay. The preparation of the report has taken the group longer than originally expected for the reasons I outlined above. I should point out that, notwithstanding that the report is still awaited by me, it has been known for more than ten years that turf cutting on 32 raised bog special areas of conservation designated before 1999 would no longer be permitted after the expiry of the ten-year derogation given by the then Minister in 1999.

As regards the availability of maps of the bogs concerned, my Department has a complete set and has recently provided copies to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is intended to send copies to all affected landowners and turbary rights owners who can be located. They are available also from the Department to anyone else who wishes to receive copies. There is also an interactive map viewer on the NPWS website where the boundaries and aerial photography of all nature conservation areas can be viewed.

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