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

I was assigned this responsibility two years ago and it has been acknowledged that a great deal of progress has been made in that time. It is a difficult issue. The derogation was announced in 1999 by the then Minister. I did not announce it. It was an initiative of the previous Government, a member of which is in attendance. It is in the past. Any derogation had expired in 33 of the bogs by the time I took over. I must deal with the 53 raised bogs in respect of which there is now no derogation. The national raised bogs plan will commence shortly. It would have commenced last year if people had co-operated with my staff who were out trying to implement the law. Hopefully, the plan will be complete by November, at which time I will present it to the Commissioner. It may be that certain difficult cases can be addressed under the plan. We will not know until matters are concluded.

Of the plots cut last year, 70% were not cut this year. That has been verified by our people on the ground. There were 2,568 applications for compensation received and acknowledged by the Department with 2,142 payments issuing. There were 194 turf deliveries. I note even though it is not directly raised in the question that €3.4 million was paid in compensation in 2012.

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