Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 740: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the media reports that an EU regulation is to be introduced to make it obligatory for people cutting turf for domestic use to apply for planning permission or have an environmental impact assessment carried out before they can commence work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32389/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the question refers to the Planning and Development Regulations 2005 which I made on 14 July 2005 following debate in both Houses. The regulations generally exempt peat extraction below a threshold of 10 hectares from the requirement for planning permission. However, there are exceptions where the peat extraction would have significant effects on the environment. In those limited cases, planning permission must be applied for, accompanied by an environmental impact statement. Where the peat extraction takes place within peatland areas that have been afforded protection either as special areas of conservation, SACs, or natural heritage areas, NHAs, those are subject to a separate control system which is unaffected by the change to the regulations.