Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Naughten and the Acting Chairman have significant experience in this particular area.

Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland's raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas within the framework of the EU habitats directive, including the establishment of a long-term compensation scheme for affected turf cutters.

The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. It was extended in 2014 to include natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas and who fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. It comprises a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a legal agreement payment of €500.

Up to 2,569 applicants are regularly receiving compensation under the scheme. Of these, 263 have applied for and are awaiting relocation to a non-designated bog. The relocation of turf cutters to a non-designated bog is not always straightforward. Notwithstanding this, progress in relocation has been achieved in several cases. Some 72 turf cutters from 11 different raised bog designated areas have been relocated to non-designated bogs. A further four relocation sites in counties Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath which could accommodate up to 55 turf cutters have been developed by the Department. These are due to be operational from 2020. Relocation sites for a further six special areas of conservation have been identified by the Department and are at various stages of development. These could accommodate a further 50 turf cutters. All of these sites together could accommodate almost 180 of the 263 cutters who expressed a relocation interest. The Department is still investigating suitable relocation sites for seven raised bog special areas of conservation.

In addition, within the framework of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022, the Department is considering the available options in terms of relocation and the provisions of the habitats directive to provide for turf cutting in certain areas of raised bog special areas of conservation. Some 14 sites are under consideration for the possible application of Article 6 of the directive.

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