Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and I am delighted to be able to address this issue. I attempted to do so twice when the reports came out but it was not deemed important enough to be discussed in the Dáil. It is good that we can talk about it today. There is much talk about value for money in Ireland, as it is very important to people. When we consider the estimated €500 million that is being thrown at the issue of bogs and the Habitats Directive, one would imagine we could get success. After all these years, the success is as follows.

The Minister is in charge of the following bogs. Killyconny bog's active raised bog habitat has decreased by 89%, that of Raheenmore is down by 13.5% and that of Lough Forbes is down by 91.6%. There are four bogs on which we cut turf; my bog of Cloonchambers has seen the active raised bog habitat increase by 120%; that of Moanveanlagh has increased by 69.8%, that of Monivea has increased by 66.9% - I witnessed 1,000 hoppers of turf cut there this year - and Lisnageeragh's active raised bog habitat has increased by 127%. The best performing bog has turf cut by our chairman, Mr. Michael Fitzmaurice.

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