John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1415: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person (details supplied) will receive payment for turbury rights sale of bog and for raised bog in a natural heritage area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25804/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department provides compensation, by way of purchase at standard rates, for persons who are owners of land or turbary rights in bogs that have been proposed for designation as special areas of conservation or natural heritage areas, and where it is necessary for conservation reasons to phase out cutting of turf for domestic purposes. The scheme is applicable primarily to any person who wishes to sell freehold, fee simple or turbary rights over designated raised bog, which is mainly in the midlands.

The Department will consider the purchase of designated blanket bog, which is in mountain areas and in western counties, at the rate of €1,000 per acre or part thereof, only in exceptional circumstances where it is found necessary to restrict cutting of turf. The persons referred to in the question own bog within the Carrane Hill Bog NHA No. 2415, which is classified as blanket bog, and applied to my Department for compensation. Following full consideration of their application, my Department does not intend to purchase bog or turbary rights in this area of blanket bog.