Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

It should be clearly understood that there is no issue regarding turf cutting on the majority of Irish bogs. A small number of raised bogs, which comprise approximately 4% of bogland within the State where turf cutting is feasible, has been designated for conservation purposes. For 32 of these sites, the ten-year derogation allowing a continuation of turf cutting for domestic purposes has now elapsed. No further cutting can take place on these sites without the express consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The Minister is fully aware of the difficulties this may present to those who have, up to this year, been cutting turf on these 32 raised bog sites. For this reason he established an interdepartmental working group on the cessation of turf cutting in designated raised bogs to explore these very issues. The working group was established last year. It included representatives of the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Finance, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Office of Public Works, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.

The terms of reference of the group, which are available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, required it to consider the arrangements that would be necessary, including financial arrangements, to achieve the introduction of further restrictions to domestic turf cutting in raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas. It invited submissions from all interested parties and met numerous associations representing both turf cutting interests and conservationists. Each representative group had an opportunity to put their case to the group and seek whatever clarifications they required.

The Minister is now considering the findings and recommendations which the group has made in its report regarding the required restrictions on further turf cutting in this limited number of sites. Following consultation with his colleagues and a Government decision, any new arrangements will be initiated without delay, and will include direct notification of owners and users of the bogs affected.

There are 130 special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas designated for the protection of raised bog, which is a rare and priority habitat under the habitats directive. Ireland is obliged by law to protect these bogs.

While only a relatively small number of bogs and turf cutters are potentially affected by the necessary cessation of turf cutting, the Government is conscious of the needs of the people who rely on their turf for domestic heating.

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