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

The work of identifying plots has been successful at Mountbellew and Clara bogs. This was done by the previous Government led by Deputy Troy's party. It identified alternatives. We have been working closely with Bord na Móna and Coillte to identify alternative bogs. The process is under way and people from the National Parks and Wildlife Service are trying to find alternative bogs for people as we speak.

Deputy Troy raised the question of the level of applications and the response. To date 1,795 applications for compensation have been received under the scheme. Some 381 payments have been made and a further 48 payments are scheduled by the end of this week. Some 1,269 applications for compensation have been acknowledged by the Department. Of these a total of 400 applicants have expressed an interest in relocating to non-designated bogs. Last week, 349 letters issued offering those who have applied to sell bog plots to the Department under the voluntary bog purchase scheme the opportunity to transfer to the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme if they so wish. There is ongoing intensive communication between my Department and those affected. I have asked for this to be accelerated because I agree these people will be inconvenienced and they must be compensated properly and helped in every possible way.

As a Minister of the Government I must implement the law. That is the bottom line and that is my duty as a Minister.

On the cessation of turf cutting this year, the Commissioner was adamant when we posed the question that for this national plan to proceed there had to be a cessation of turf cutting.

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