Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive top-up payment for the purchase of bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4587/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress in July 2004. This agreement included increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been statutorily proposed for designation. The new rates are deemed to reflect the increase in the value of bogs since the original scheme was launched in March 1999.

The new rates include a scaled incentive payment up to a maximum of €6,000, additional to the rate per acre for purchase of bog or turbary. For people whose bogs were statutorily proposed for designation prior to 1999 and who have already sold to the Department, it was agreed that the new additional scaled incentive payment would be applied retrospectively, with the previous €1,270, £1,000, bonus, where already paid, being deducted.

My Department is at present examining the entitlement of the person named to an additional payment under this provision of the agreement.