Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is absolutely no doubt but that this Government has provided more resources in this regard than any previous Government. The Department has forked out €11 million in annual payments, turf deliveries and once-off payments. The reality for the cohort of turf cutters who want to continue, however, is that the vast majority of them have yet to be relocated 18 years down the road. I accept that relocating turf cutters is a complex process, but is it not the case that until this Government took office virtually nothing was done, other than the issue in Clara, to facilitate relocation? The Department sat on its hands concerning it.

Is it not the case also that even when one has gone through this complex process, the Department digs in its heels and is not prepared to purchase the bogs required to facilitate relocation? There have been a number of examples where the Minister's Department has balked at the very last minute from purchasing specific bogs that would facilitate relocations.

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