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

As the Deputy is aware, I recently published the draft national peatlands strategy, the draft national raised bog special areas of conservation, SAC, management plan and the review of raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. The draft peatlands strategy has been prepared in consultation with relevant Departments and with the Peatlands Council. It sets out for the first time a strategic, long-term vision for the management and use of our peatlands resources. This includes the protection of Ireland's unique bog habitats while also clearly recognising the valued tradition of turf cutting and the many other uses to which Ireland’s vast peatlands are put. The draft strategy envisages more joined-up thinking across Government when policies and decisions relating to the future use of peatlands are made. The drafting of an SAC management plan was recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke following the peatlands forum and was called for in the motion that was agreed by Dáil Éireann in March 2012. It sets out how the raised bog SACs are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed.

The NHA review proposes a reconfiguration of the network of raised bog NHAs and will involve the de-designation of a number of sites and the designation of new NHAs. The resultant network of sites will be of greater conservation value than the existing network while reducing the number of turf cutters who will be required to cease cutting from over 3,000 to just over 500. These documents have been underpinned by the most comprehensive scientific assessment that has ever been undertaken of our raised bog resource. A three-month period of public consultation has now commenced and I urge people to reflect on these proposals and to let their views be known.

When I came into office, Ireland was on the cusp of legal action in the European courts for failure to implement the law. Since then, we have introduced a compensation and relocation scheme, which is heavily subscribed; established the Peatlands Council; held a peatlands forum; and through these most recent policy advances, are bringing certainty to difficult issues that have been avoided for too long. We now need to consolidate the progress that we have made and ensure the preservation and restoration of our most valuable bog habitats while addressing the legitimate concerns and needs of those affected. These documents set out how, working together, we can do this. I again encourage all stakeholders to engage with me and my Department so we can continue to make real progress.

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