Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and concur with Deputy Paul Connaughton on the importance of having an overall plan for NHAs. I wish to raise my concern about the engagement at local level with my constituents in County Kildare and, in particular, the turf cutters associated with Mouds Bog which is an SAC. The level of dialogue is not what I hoped it would be ten months ago when we agreed a resolution in the Dáil. There is a considerable amount of local knowledge among turf cutters which can feed into this plan and I hope it will not be progressed in the absence of consultation. Perhaps, however, County Kildare has not yet been reached. Concerns have been expressed about potential flooding issues which have not yet been discussed with the turf cutters. One year ago reference was made to a potential relocation bog in Lattin, County Kildare, but there has been little dialogue on the issue since. There are concerns locally that it may not be a viable option, but turf cutters never received an opportunity to discuss the matter with officials. I ask that departmental officials engage in a proactive manner with Kildare turf cutters in order to tease out some of the issues arising.

See this speech in context