John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am glad to provide the House with an update on the need for restrictions on turf cutting in a small number of designated raised bogs, and the arrangements that are being made to assist those who are affected. Ireland's raised bogs are very rare natural features and valuable ecosystems. Over time, Ireland has lost most of its raised bog area to land reclamation and peat exploitation. Once lost, our bogs cannot be replaced. The challenge for this generation is to strike a balance to protect the very best of our bogs so that future generations can enjoy them, while at the same time allowing the current generation to continue traditional practices like turf-cutting on non-designated bogs.

The Government and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have been working hard to strike that balance. For this reason only, the best of our remaining raised bogs were designated as special areas of conservation, SAC, or natural heritage areas, NHA. The Government is legally obliged to protect these sites under EU and national law. To this end, commercial turf extraction was ended on these sites many years ago but a derogation has allowed continued cutting for personal domestic fuel supply for a period of ten years.

The available evidence is that even this limited turf-cutting, and the drainage required to facilitate it, has caused asignificant loss of protected habitat. It does this in two ways: the drainage lowers the high water level necessary for peat formation to occur; and, more obviously, the turf-cutting removes part of the bog itself. If the drainage and the turf-cutting continue the bog will stop functioning as a bog, stop forming peat, and will ultimately disappear.

The ten-year derogation period for the 32 raised bog sites designated as special areas of conservation between 1997 and 1999 has now ended and no more turf cutting is permitted in these sites without the express consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The derogation comes to an end for a further 24 SAC bog sites at the end of 2011 and on 75 NHA sites at the end of 2013. In total, these sites constitute less that 5% of Ireland's bogland where turf extraction is feasible. Turf-cutting can continue as before on more than 95% of Ireland's bogland.

The Government recognises that the end of the derogations will affect a number of land and turbary right owners, who normally source their fuel from these bogs, and is putting in place measures to address their needs. The shape of afinal scheme addressing their interests will be decided over the coming months but interim arrangements have been put in place.

The Minister, Deputy John Gormley, will provide interim funding to address the immediate needs of those who have been relying on these bogs to source their fuel. It is estimated that approximately 750 cutters will be affected this year out of the tens of thousands who still have access to turf banks. Those eligible can apply for a grant of €1,000 towards their fuel needs for the coming winter.

The Government has also announced that it will not, for the time being, accept new applications to the voluntary bog purchase scheme but confirmed that applications already received will be processed. In the coming days, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will be writing to people who may be affected this year by the end of the derogation. Details of the interim compensation scheme will be provided. At the same time, work is continuing to identify how best to address the long-term needs of those affected by the restrictions that are required on these sites. These include, but are not limited to, the provision of suitable turbary rights on undesignated bogs, where appropriate and available. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, and his Department will continue to engage with interested parties before any final decisions are taken in this regard.

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