Dáil debates

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

Other Questions

Special Areas of Conservation.

3:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will implement the commitment to review the derogation on turf cutting on designated bogs with the view to extending the right beyond 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27138/08]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to review proposed restrictions on turf cutting on designated bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27139/08]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to introduce grants to compensate people affected by the end of the ten-year derogation on the cutting of peat in bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24953/08]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to deal with the end of the ten-year derogation of cutting peat in bogs in view of the importance of this way of life to rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24951/08]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 66, 70 and 88 together.

There is a certain amount of confusion regarding the impact that restrictions on turf-cutting are having or will have. Turf cutting is restricted on a very small number of Ireland's bogs. Of the 1,500 to 1,600 raised bogs in Ireland, only 139 are designated as special areas of conservation, SACs, or natural heritage areas, NHAs, and only 32 of these are subject to the ten-year derogation that comes to an end this year. While a similar ten-year derogation period will apply to the balance of the 139 designated bogs, turf cutting may continue as before on the vast majority of bogs.

Raised bogs are found mainly in the Irish midlands, from Kildare to east Galway and from south Leitrim to Tipperary. Less than 1% of Ireland's original active raised bog remains. However, this tiny proportion represents 60% of western Europe's remaining raised bogs.

Under the EU habitats directive, Ireland is obliged to designate certain priority habitat sites as areas for conservation, including some raised and blanket bogs. The habitats directive was transposed into Irish law by the EC Natural Habitats Regulations 1997. Under these regulations, all peat extraction was proposed to be ended on designated bogs. However, a derogation period of up to ten years was introduced by the then responsible Minister in respect of domestic turf cutting.

An agreement reached between the Government and the farming representative organisations in 2004 provided that the Department would review whether there are particular circumstances in which domestic turf cutting could continue beyond the derogation period without damaging the bogs.

Recent scientific reports on bog monitoring and turf cutting found that continuing damage at a rate of approximately 2% to 4% per annum was occurring because of domestic turf cutting. In the light of this scientific evidence, it would not be appropriate to extend the ten-year derogation and turf cutting on the 32 raised bogs designated prior to 1999 should therefore cease at the end of the current season as scheduled. The situation with regard to extraction of peat from blanket bogs is different, primarily because this habitat can accommodate a certain amount of turf cutting without significant damage and is in a better position to renew itself without active intervention.

My Department operates a compensation scheme for persons to stop turf cutting in designated raised bogs. This covers both special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas. It provides payments of €3,500 for the first acre and €3,000 for each subsequent acre of freehold, as well as an incentive bonus of up to €6,000. This has enabled the State to acquire either the freehold or the turf cutting rights on 6,500 acres of designated peat land. Arbitration is available in cases where the turbary owner believes that compensation should be higher. I am providing the Deputies with a schedule of all designated raised and blanket bogs identifying, in particular, those designated in or prior to 1999.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his response. Initially, a ten-year grace period was provided to allow those who own bogs to secure an alternative fuel source but they have not been given assistance by the State to facilitate them in sourcing alternative fuels. In 1997 the cost of oil was $24 a barrel whereas now it is $140 a barrel. In light of that, will the Minister explain what assistance his Department has provided to facilitate turf cutters to secure alternative fuel sources?

Why can he not furnish information about the scientific evidence to Members? He gave a commitment to provide it to me on 1 July but I am still waiting on it and his Department cannot furnish it to me. Was the scientific study carried out on all 32 designated bogs due to cease turf cutting at the end of this year? If turf cutters are permitted to cut turf by hand or with a sleán, what is the scientific difference between doing that and using the hopper? The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, will be well able to explain the implications of this, having footed plenty of turf in his time.

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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There is a misapprehension about this. The hopper is permitted but the sausage machine is causing the difficulty.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There are no sausage machines.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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They are obsolete.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is completely out of touch.

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am not out of touch. I am outlining the current position. We are not dealing with hoppers.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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What about sausage machines?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Allow the Minister to continue, without interruption.

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Deputy wants answers and clarity and I am providing that. I take the Deputy's point.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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We are going back to the wheelbarrow.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister reiterate this only affects sausage machines?

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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That is what we are dealing with, not hoppers. Last night, the Deputy's colleague correctly stated people voted "No" in the recent referendum because they were resentful about their right to cut turf being affected and a campaign of misinformation was pursued on this matter.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Why did the Minister not correct this?

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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We need to clarify this. All of us have a duty as elected representatives to tell people the truth regarding this matter. People say they cannot use the traditional hopper for turf cutting, which is not the case.

Deputy Naughten asked what my Department has done. Only last week we provided exemptions for microrenewables in order that people in the affected areas can erect wind turbines and install solar panels and so on without planning permission. We are making it easier for people to heat their water and so on through CHP plants, which Deputy Hogan welcomed. I will give Deputy Naughten the scientific advice if he wants it.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister ignored my statement last night that the EU habitats directive declares its central aim is, "to promote the maintenance of biodiversity, taking account of the economic, social, cultural and regional requirements". The interpretation over the years has been based solely on scientific evidence. Can he reconcile that with the directive?

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister deliver on one commitment? Will he reiterate to his officials policing this issue on the ground that this concerns sausage machines and not hoppers?

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I can do that but my officials are well aware of that, particularly those on the ground. They try to engage the public and I have spoken to rangers. I met the ranger in Galway recently who informed me about the campaign of misinformation on this matter.

Deputy Naughten contacted my Department regarding the scientific information. My officials indicated they are compiling it and they will have it for him as quickly as possible. I will ensure that happens.

Deputy Ulick Burke raised the compatibility of preserving SACs and economic activity. We have had a ten-year derogation which it was hoped would give people the opportunity to put alternative arrangements in place.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister referred to alternative sources of fuel last night. What does he mean?

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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This issue of restricting turf cutting must be put in perspective, as it involves 32 bogs this year. I recently listened to "Sunday Miscellany" and a romantic story about the end of the turf cutter.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Romantic Ireland is dead and gone.

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Turf cutting can continue on our blanket bogs and that message needs to be disseminated.