Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 28 November 2012, the cost of each of the various turf compensation schemes from 2000 to 2010 in tabular form. [4592/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I apologise to my colleagues for my absence. I have just returned from Dundalk.

Compensation has been paid under several measures by my Department and its predecessors in respect of the protection of raised bog habitat designated as special areas of conservation under the EU habitats directive and as natural heritage areas under the Wildlife Acts.

In 1999, the then Minister confirmed that commercial turf cutting on these protected sites had to cease immediately. Commercial operators compelled to cease turf extraction activities within the designated sites could apply for compensation for the losses they suffered. Compensation was paid in respect of 11 such claims totalling €4.04 million between 2000 and 2010.

It was announced subsequently that domestic cutting could continue under a derogation for a further ten years. This announcement was accompanied by the introduction of a voluntary bog purchase scheme under which domestic turf cutters could sell their plots at agreed rates. Those rates were subsequently increased in 2004 following agreement with the farming organisations under the partnership talks. A total of €23.4 million was paid to 814 applicants under the scheme between 2000 and 2010. In May 2010, the then Government announced the closure of the voluntary bog purchase scheme to new applicants. However, my Department is continuing to process applications in respect of special areas of conservation received before that date.

When the end of the derogation for domestic turf cutters was confirmed in May 2010 an interim compensation scheme was established. This provided interim funding to those who had been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999. A total of €171,000 was paid to 171 applicants under the scheme in 2010. The scheme has since been replaced by a 15-year annuity payment of €1,500 per annum, index linked, for those who have been required to cease cutting on special area of conservation raised bogs. As requested by the Deputy, these details are set out in tabular form in the reply.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Unfortunately, since Deputy Finian McGrath is not here, under the rules of the House I am obliged to move on to the next question. Deputy Flanagan, do you wish to comment briefly?

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Yes.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Is it agreed that Deputy Flanagan can intervene briefly? Agreed.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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There has been some confusion on this question. I believe I was meant to get the priority question, but so be it. It is on the same theme.

The Minister used the term "derogation" and said that the derogation was over, but something cannot be over if it had never started. There was no derogation. The former EU Commission representative, Julian Bruno, said there was none. Who is telling the truth? Was there a derogation or not? As far as we know there was not. The Minister read out the figures for all the compensation paid out. That is fine, but who has received the compensation? Has it been given to active turf cutters?

I am somewhat baffled. I will use an example with which the Minister is familiar. On Moanveanlagh bog in Kerry more people cut turf last year than in the previous year.

The Minister appears to have sanctioned compensation for people. Who is getting it? Is it turf cutters or lapsed turf cutters? I am not complaining about lapsed turf cutters receiving the compensation to which they are entitled. It is their land. It is a bad deal, but it is a personal decision for them. I want to know, however, who is taking up the compensation. My information on the success of the scheme is that no bog has yet been sorted out notwithstanding that we are 15 years along. This is not going as well as the propaganda suggests.

Of the 29 bogs which were cut two years ago, 26 were cut last year. A further three would have been cut were it not for the poor weather conditions. The only way the scheme will work is if people are listened to and trust is established. We will be vindicating our rights again this year. We have no choice.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I was assigned this responsibility two years ago and it has been acknowledged that a great deal of progress has been made in that time. It is a difficult issue. The derogation was announced in 1999 by the then Minister. I did not announce it. It was an initiative of the previous Government, a member of which is in attendance. It is in the past. Any derogation had expired in 33 of the bogs by the time I took over. I must deal with the 53 raised bogs in respect of which there is now no derogation. The national raised bogs plan will commence shortly. It would have commenced last year if people had co-operated with my staff who were out trying to implement the law. Hopefully, the plan will be complete by November, at which time I will present it to the Commissioner. It may be that certain difficult cases can be addressed under the plan. We will not know until matters are concluded.

Of the plots cut last year, 70% were not cut this year. That has been verified by our people on the ground. There were 2,568 applications for compensation received and acknowledged by the Department with 2,142 payments issuing. There were 194 turf deliveries. I note even though it is not directly raised in the question that €3.4 million was paid in compensation in 2012.