Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht when he will publish the plan on the conservation of protected bogs; if he will consider the proposals in order that limited cutting may take place in a small number of bogs when alternative sites have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21699/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The report on the Peatlands Forum from Mr. Justice John Quirke recommended that a national plan be prepared to examine how Ireland's 53 raised bog special areas of conservation are to be protected. It was considered that, in the context of such a plan, it might be possible to bring some flexibility within the terms of the EU habitats directive that could allow limited cutting within a small number of sites. The Government accepted the recommendation of Mr. Justice Quirke at its meeting on 7 March. On 8 March Dáil Éireann unanimously supported a motion which called on the Government to "engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive, and to prepare and submit a National Raised Bog Restoration Plan". On 3 April, together with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, I met EU Environment Commissioner Potocnik in Brussels, where we secured the support of the European Commission for developing a national raised bog SAC management plan. The Commission also agreed to assist and provide support for Ireland in preparing this plan, within the framework of the habitats directive. The Government agreed to maintain close and intensive engagement with the Commission on the preparation of the plan.

My Department will now accelerate the process of putting the plan in place, giving specific priority to identifying the issues around the most difficult bogs, with the intention that it be developed in the coming 12 months. The Plan will be wide-ranging, looking at the practical aspects of conserving and managing the affected bogs, and allow solutions for turf cutters to be explored in detail.

While the Plan is being prepared, no turf cutting can take place on the protected bogs. However, as the House is aware, a flexible package of compensation for turf cutters has been put in place. Those who want to cease cutting turf completely can apply for compensation of €1,500 per annum in the next 15 years. Eligible cutters are also entitled to a one-off payment of €500 for this year. This means the total compensation package is worth €23,000, index linked and tax free. For those who wish to continue cutting, my Department is working to relocate turf cutters to alternative bogs. The first of these relocation bogs will be ready this year, but, where they are not available, turf cutters can choose, in the interim, between the financial compensation or the delivery of 15 tonnes of turf annually. They will also be entitled to the one-off €500 payment. To date, more than 1,700 applications for compensation have been received by my Department.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the work the Minister has done in this regard and the work done by Mr. Justice Quirke in the consultative process. It is fair to say that for successful conservation, we need a positive spirit of partnership. That is why there is grave concern when major stakeholders such as the TCCA walk away from the talks. On 14 March the Minister raised everyone's expectations and gave people on all sides reasons for hope. It was great headline-grabbing stuff, but to date, it has not been followed through.

What action did the Government take to preserve the priority habitats within its control before beginning its pursuit of small domestic turf-cutters? Has it received support from the EU Commission in respect of formulating a national plan? Why are Department of Defence personnel ferrying staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the place in order that they might monitor the activities of domestic turf-cutters? What is the cost of this to the Department of Defence, which is closing down Army barracks in the interests of cutting costs? When will it be realistically possible for the Minister to bring this matter to a successful conclusion? Does he have any hope with regard to whether it will be possible to bring the TCCA back on board? A number of people signed up for compensation but they have been waiting a damn long time for it. This is creating a disincentive for others who may be considering signing up for it.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I certainly accepted the motion to which Deputy Troy refers and which stated that the Government should "engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive, and to prepare and submit a National Raised Bog Restoration Plan to the Commission as a matter of urgency". That was the intention behind the motion, that is what I accepted and that is what I have done. The Commission has engaged with us and is going to provide us with services. This is both a major development and a major departure.

As the Deputy is aware, his party did absolutely nothing in respect of this matter for ten or 12 years.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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That is-----

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Mattie McGrath should listen to what I have to say. Fianna Fáil used a derogation in respect of which it did not even obtain permission from Europe and it allowed one third of the designated areas on which we signed off with Europe to be taken away over a ten-year period.

I inherited this problem and, as stated on previous occasions, the first thing presented to me when I entered my Department was a letter of formal notice that was sent to the current leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Martin, at the end of January 2011. In that letter, Deputy Martin was informed that as a result of the inaction of his Government - which was replaced shortly afterwards - the European Commission was taking Ireland to court. When I was appointed, I immediately established the Peatlands Council and I put in place a scheme of compensation for people who were affected. In the first instance, that scheme applied in respect of those who previously worked the 33 affected bogs. The amount of compensation available last year was €1,000 per individual and this has been increased to €2,000 in the current year. The Peatlands Council made a recommendation to the effect that we should deliver fuel to those people who are affected. The initial proposal in this regard was 10,000 tonnes but I increased this to 15,000.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. I must call Deputy Troy.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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This is an extremely important matter and I have something further to say in respect of it. The Air Corps is used by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The latter uses it to carry out monitoring with regard to the single farm payment. My Department has availed of the services of the Air Corps-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Why can the Garda not use the Air Corps?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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-----in the past. The Air Corps takes the opportunity presented by working with the Departments to train its personnel. The cost involved is quite small. In 2010, the total cost of relating to the Air Corps providing assistance to the National Parks and Wildlife Services was €13,320. This amount related to 72 hours of flight time. The cost of utilising private contractors has been approximately €12,000 to date.

My Department does not have enough manpower to supervise all of the various bogs. Deputy Mattie McGrath should note that fines of €25,000 per day are hanging over us at present. This amounts to €9 million per year.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Minister should stand up to Europe.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Does Deputy Troy wish to pose a final question?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Mattie McGrath seems to be a serial law-breaker.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Excuse me-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Please, Deputy, we have gone over time. These are Priority Questions. I call Deputy Troy to ask a brief supplementary question.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the work done by the Minister since taking office in establishing the Peatlands Council and commissioning the Quirke report. I do not disagree with any of these developments. In 1997 the habitats directive was signed by the last rainbow coalition Government. This issue has been ongoing since. There was a ten-year derogation period and it is a pity the former Minister, John Gormley, did not act more decisively on the issue.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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He did not obtain a derogation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge that. If the European Union is so supportive of the national plan, why can it not allow domestic turf cutting to continue on these bogs for 12 more months while the plan is being put in operation? What has the Government done to preserve priority habitats in its own control? It seems it is quite willing and able to go after the small domestic turf cutter, while priority habitats in its control are not properly preserved.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission signed up to the national plan for the 53 SACs, special areas of conservation. I hope within this an accommodation may be found for turf to be cut on the designated bogs. The only condition it imposed in agreeing to the plan, a major departure, was that there be no turf cutting this year. The Commissioner was quite clear about this. I know the Deputy, on behalf of his party, is getting very exercised about this issue.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I have been exercised about it since I was elected.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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It is unfortunate that the same interest was not shown in 1999 when the former Fianna Fáil environment Minister was in charge of the issue. Up to 1,700 turf cutters have applied for compensation. People are taking this matter seriously and do not want to break the law. I have been supportive of helping them in this regard. We signed up to the habitats directive which was transposed into Irish law and we were supposed to implement it. I am trying to help people to find alternative sources of fuel. That is all I can do, as I cannot change the law. All I can do is secure adequate compensation for turf cutters to ensure they will not be affected by these designations. That is the bottom line.