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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 14 and 22 together.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published by my Department, provides details on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. The review has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured NHA network. This will entail the phasing out of turf cutting on certain NHAs by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain NHAs.

To compensate for the loss of habitat within sites where it is proposed that turf cutting can continue, 25 undesignated raised bogs, which are currently in public ownership or where there is reduced turf cutting pressure, will be designated as NHAs. These sites will be proposed for designation later this year, when all the necessary preparatory work which is under way at present is complete.

Any turf cutter required to cease turf cutting on an NHA is being offered compensatory measures similar to those available to turf cutters from raised bog special areas of conservation, SACs. Such compensation will be available to qualifying persons with effect from 2014.

A total of 2,959 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, introduced for raised bog SACs, have been received and acknowledged by my Department. Of these, 820 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Almost 4,600 individual payments have been made since the commencement of the scheme and more than 1,100 persons have signed legal agreements with my Department. Some €8.36 million has been spent to date on direct payments to turf cutters and on deliveries of turf.

In addition, my Department has issued in the region of 250 compensation forms in relation to NHA sites, and 50 completed forms have been received. My Department has also received 129 permit applications in relation to category 1 NHA sites, resulting in 90 permits being issued to cut turf until the end of 2016. Five permits to cut turf have also been issued to contractors.

Progress in relocating turf cutters is being achieved and is most advanced in those sites where turf cutters and their representatives have engaged with my Department in finding local solutions. In some sites, it has been difficult to progress arrangements, as representative groups have not engaged sufficiently to establish the requirement and preference for relocation amongst local turf cutters. Details of investigations to find potential relocation bogs are available on a site-by-site level in the draft national raised bog and SAC management plan, which can be viewed on my Department's website.

Examples of progress in this area include the following: Clara bog SAC, County Offaly, where a group of 25 cutters were relocated; Carrownagappul and Curraghlehanagh bog SACs, County Galway, where a group of 23 cutters were relocated; Ballynafagh bog, County Kildare, where a relocation site was identified for a group of nine cutters; Moyclare bog SAC, County Offaly, where a group is to be accommodated on a relocation site from the 2015 season; Monivea bog SAC, County Galway, where three sites have been identified for possible relocation; and Mouds bog SAC, County Kildare, where a potential relocation site was identified for a group of at least 19 cutters. Sites assessed as suitable for relocation include Ardgraigue bog SAC, County Galway, Moanveanlagh bog SAC, County Kerry, and Redwood bog SAC, County Tipperary.

I am advised that, of the remaining 43 raised bog SACs, potential relocation sites have been identified for 28, and work is ongoing on investigating site suitability. Relocation is unlikely to be required, or is likely to be small-scale, for the remaining 15 raised bog SACs due, for example, to the small numbers cutting on these sites during the relevant five-year qualification period.

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