Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details on the bogs that are to be closed to turf cutting on foot of the publication of the review of raised bog natural heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5462/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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This time last year we were told by the then Minister, Deputy Deenihan, that another round of designations would take place. At the time, he gave a commitment to the House that within a number of months those bogs would be listed and there would be consultation with the people cutting turf on them. We are now 12 months down the road but we still have not received the list of new designations that will take place, and further turf cutters who have established rights on these bogs will have those rights denied because we have not yet published the relevant list.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The report entitled Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, which is available to download from the Department’s website, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas. The reviewhas concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017, and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas. To compensate for the loss of habitat within sites where it is proposed that turf cutting can continue, 25 undesignated raised bogs which are in public ownership or where there is reduced turf cutting pressure will be designated as natural heritage areas. Compensation will be made available to affected turf cutters.

I do not propose to identify these sites until I am in a position to apply the relevant legal protections to them. This will be done following the completion of the necessary preparatory work. However, I am advised that up to 140 active turf cutters may be affected by these new designations. As with all designations, the Department will, in due course, directly contact individual landowners in the relevant areas, and advertisements will be placed in local newspapers. An explanation will be given as to why a site is being proposed for designation and of the process through which individuals may appeal against the designation of their lands, up to having their cases considered formally by the independent designated areas appeals board.