Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 135, 416, 418, 428 and 429 together.

Earlier this year, at the request of the Government, Mr. Conor Skehan, chairman of the Peatlands Council, convened a Peatlands Forum, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice John Quirke, and involving my Department, the IFA, the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, Bord na Móna and representatives of turf cutting and environmental groups. This forum allowed each community affected by the cessation of turf cutting to put forward their views on the issues and follow-up steps were identified for each bog.

The report on the forum from Mr. Justice Quirke also recommended that a national plan should be prepared to examine how the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation are to be protected. This recommendation was agreed to by Government. Dáil Éireann also gave unanimous support to a Private Members' motion which called for such a national plan to be put in place. On 3 April, together with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, I met European Environment Commissioner Potocnik in Brussels, where we secured the support of the European Commission for developing a national raised bog SAC management plan which will be developed over the coming 12 months. The plan will be wide-ranging, looking at the practical aspects of conserving and managing the affected bogs, and will allow solutions for turf cutters to be explored in detail. In the context of such a plan, it may be possible to bring some flexibility, within the terms of the EU habitats directive, that could allow limited cutting within a small number of sites. The plan will be progressed both at local level for each site and through the Peatlands Council.

For the plan to be a success, it is clear no unauthorised turf cutting can take place on the protected bogs this year. Any widespread breach of the law would undermine everyone's collective efforts to develop the flexibility within the law which is being sought as part of the proposed national plan. It is only within the context of a national plan that issues such as the provision of compensatory habitat can be considered.

To date, there has been one significant incidence of cutting on one protected bog, with more minor incidences on four others. My Department, with the support of the Garda Síochána, is taking appropriate enforcement action and is continuing to gather evidence for the purposes of pursuing the individuals involved. The small minority who would wish to break the law are acting against the interests of the majority who are willing to work with my Department and the Peatlands Council to resolve outstanding issues. This is demonstrated by the fact that more than 1,700 applications for compensation have been received to date under my Department's cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.

Progress is also being made in regard to the relocation option under the scheme following the work done at the Peatlands Forum. In this regard, my Department is making arrangements for assessing the suitability of a number of potential relocation sites. Relocation arrangements have already been concluded with groups from Clara Bog in County Offaly and Mountbellew in County Galway. My Department and the Peatlands Council will continue to engage actively with turf cutting communities and representatives who wish to find acceptable solutions.

See this speech in context