Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, we saw a number of instances over the weekend of damage to the protected raised bogs. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, has worked very hard to try to solve the problem. Senator John Whelan has mentioned that €4 million has been spent on compensation payments and turf delivery schemes to date. There is no need for people to break the law. We have a system in place under which turf cutters can receive €1,500 per year in compensation for 15 years or have 15 tonnes of turf delivered to their homes. Therefore, there is no need for this desecration of the protected raised bogs. Only 2% of the raised bogs in the country are affected.