Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said in my reply, the review of the raised bog natural heritage area network was published in January 2014. It sets out the future arrangements for turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bogs. There has been consultation on this review and stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide their views. Some people will have to stop cutting on the natural heritage areas from 2017. We have already opened our compensation scheme for those people, and a number of people have taken this up. Others will be told that their bogs are to be de-designated. This happened as a result of a substantial amount of work undertaken to ensure more focused protection. We will designate new natural heritage area bogs, but my Department has given a commitment that these will be mainly from State bogs.

Overall, the approach taken between special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas has been very different. We have taken a very balanced approach with regard to natural heritage areas. We have consulted, published a review and set out proposals. People who will be asked to stop cutting have been given a lead-in time until 2017. Good progress has been made when people engage. I encourage people to engage with my Department and officials because I have a good example of where engagement works out well. People came together in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, worked together, adopted a co-operative approach and found a solution that they are very happy with.

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