Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Other Questions

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme

10:10 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which full and final agreement has been reached with traditional turf cutters who have been displaced arising from special area of conservation and National Heritage areas over the past three years to date; if agreement has been reached in respect of any alternatives that may be acceptable to those wishing to exercise their turf cutting rights while at the same time meeting national and European criteria in respect of conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40092/14]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to that old issue of displaced traditional turf cutters. I acknowledge the work done by the Minister's predecessor in this regard. I congratulate both Ministers present as this is the first occasion on which I have had an opportunity to raise questions with them. I wish them well in their respective portfolios.

My question concerns this ongoing issue whereby displaced turf cutters feel disadvantaged. While they have been the true, traditional turf cutters, I wish to differentiate them from others who may not have been traditional ones. Will the Minister consider addressing their particular issues?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his good wishes and also for having raised this matter.

Some 3,017 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have been received and acknowledged by my Department.

Of these, 814 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs.

Some 6,116 payments and 610 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these applications. In addition, 1,373 legal agreements have been returned to my Department and 1,197 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made in respect of these legal agreements. Total expenditure to date amounts to over €10.9 million since the Government introduced the compensation arrangements for affected turf cutters.

Since the cessation of turf cutting, the compensation scheme has been extended this year to raised bog natural heritage areas. Up to 147 applications for compensation in respect of these sites have been received and acknowledged by my Department. Of these, four applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs and 68 payments have been made in respect of the applications received. Progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in several cases.

Arrangements have been made as regards Clara bog in County Offaly, where 25 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on Killeranny bog, and Carrownagappul bog and Curraghlehanagh bog in County Galway, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on the Islands bog and Killasolan bog. Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the remaining raised bog special areas of conservation where relocation may be required. However, relocation is a complex process with many issues to be resolved for each individual site.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The draft national raised bog SAC management plan, published in January, sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. The draft plan sets out the demanding tests which must be met before turf cutting could be consented to within the provisions of the habitats directive. The final plan will clarify whether the relevant provisions of the directive could be applicable for any particular special area of conservation and will seek to establish whether sufficient consensus can be achieved at a national level to make a successful case to the European Commission for flexibility on this basis.

10:20 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. Has it been possible to identify the precise number of traditional turf cutters who do not wish to be relocated and would much prefer to remain where they are based in preference to compensation? To what extent is the Quirke report taken into account and where a SAC, special area of conservation, might be relocated to accommodate turf cutters where available?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is difficult to quantify these issues. It is hoped to relocate turf cutters from Barroughter bog and Clonmoylan bog to Shragh bog and Mount Hevey bog to Colehill bog, Kinnegad, County Westmeath. I can provide further information to the Deputy later.

The majority of those cutting turf on raised bog SACs are co-operating with my Department in resolving relevant issues. Up to 3,017 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation have been received. Of these, 814 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Some 6,116 payments and 610 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these applications. In addition, 1,373 legal agreements have been returned to my Department and 1,197 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made in respect of these legal agreements. Total expenditure to date amounts to over €10.9 million.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will be familiar with Mouds, Carbury and Coolearagh, as well as other bogs, in County Kildare. Is it possible to identify those particular areas where traditional turf cutters are not anxious to relocate and find a means to resolve their difficulties? They are not a significant number of people but do feel aggrieved at being asked to relocate. They have exercised their turbary rights over the past 60 years without interruption. They could be the subject matter of an assessment by the Minister’s Department with a view to resolution.

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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The option of relocating turf cutters from Coolrain bog to Ballaghmore bog was examined by the former Minister but it is now out of the equation. The draft raised bog management plan stated only 1 ha of degraded raised bog can be restored at Coolrain bog. Will she examine this and exercise the possibility under Article 6.4 of the habitats directive which Alan Seatter of the European environment directorate general in Brussels, confirmed to me can be used? There is flexibility and the turf cutters at Coolrain bog want to have a credible plan. If the Minister leaves this to the NPWS, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and civil servants, it will not be solved. She is new in the Department. Will she grab this issue by the scruff of the neck to solve this problem?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are turf cutters who do not want to relocate and make the argument they should be allowed to continue cutting at a certain bog. In one instance, I asked officials to meet with the people in question to explain to them the full issues. The only way to resolve this is through engagement. Much progress has been made already but we need to deal with these individual cases through engagement on the ground. I want to work with everyone to resolve these issues. A lot of money, €10.9 million, has been spent on this already. We need to work together to resolve the remaining issues.