Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Feighan for putting down this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys. I commend Senator Feighan for his work in regard to the turf cutting compensation scheme and the relocation scheme in recent years. I want to acknowledge the work of the last Government in sorting out a mess that was left behind. There was a debate in the Dáil last night where similar sentiments were heard from the Opposition that the last Government had tackled something that had been left unresolved for a number of years.

Since 2011 huge efforts have been made to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation within the framework of the EU habitats directive. This has included intense and ongoing engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and the European Commission. In addition, a long-term compensation scheme has been introduced to compensate cutters for their loss arising from the cessation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme comprises a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked for 15 years, or relocation to a non-designated bog, where feasible, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500. Over 3,200 applications have been received and the total expenditure under the scheme amounts to in the region of €19 million. Some 11,086 annual payments, 1,649 once-off incentive payments of €500 and 896 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these applications.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 has been presented to Dáil Éireann and published. Its purpose is to provide for the implementation of a reconfiguration of the natural heritage area network arising from the 2014 review. The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended to land owners and turbary rights holders affected by the proposals arising from the natural heritage area review. Some 246 applications have been received under the scheme and 342 annual payments have been made at a cost of just over €525,000 to applicants from these sites. Thirteen once-off incentive payments have also been made in respect of these sites.

Details in regard to the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for each raised bog site are available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. The county or counties in which each bog is located are also shown. I am making available to the House a table illustrating the amount of compensation paid under the scheme on a county by county basis. Some 633 applicants to the cessation of turf cuffing compensation scheme have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. My Department has written to over 400 turf cutters seeking expressions of interest in relocation to specific non-designated sites.

The relocation of turf cutters is a complex process. Notwithstanding the complexity involved, 62 turf cutters have been accommodated on non-designated bogs in counties Offaly and Galway. For a number of special areas of conservation, the relocation site identified may not be suitable or may not have the capacity to cater for the number of turf cutters who may wish to relocate there. In such cases, my Department, in consultation with turf culling interests, is considering the available options in terms of relocation and the provisions of Article 6 of the habitats directive. The national raised bog SAC management plan will set 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 measures to address these needs include financial compensation, relocation to non-designated bogs and considering the possible utilisation of the provisions of Article 6 of the habitats directive.

There has been a significant reduction in turf cutting activity on the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation since the cessation of turf cutting has come into effect on these sites. Final resolution of all issues in regard to the protection of Ireland’s protected raised bogs will only be brought about by everyone working together, within the law, with my Department and with the Peatlands Council, which was established for the purpose of ensuring input from all stakeholders.

I have provided a table for Senator Feighan highlighting the amounts paid to different counties. There is some overlap, given some bogs overlap county boundaries, and the table reflects this. He will see there are payments of €22,815 for Roscommon; €695,000 for Galway-Roscommon; €17,000 for Longford-Roscommon; €220,000 for Galway-Roscommon-Sligo; and €2,536,000 for Roscommon-Longford-Westmeath; and a sum total of €19,881,602.35.