John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the directive he will issue to local authorities particularly in counties Sligo and Leitrim in relation to the situation where persons who are cutting turf on a small commercial basis, or for their own use, will be required to have an environmental impact assessment carried out to evaluate the impact of all turf cutting in the whole bog, not just on their own bank of turf; if it is a one person acre plot, which a person traditionally has for cutting turf that may come under the new definition and will need planning approval, and where there are a number of plots within a bog being used to supply turf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39971/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the question refers to the revised peat extraction controls introduced under the Planning and Development Regulations 2005 which I made on 14 July 2005 following approval of both Houses and to ensure compliance with EU requirements on environmental impact assessment.

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 these limited cases, planning permission must be applied for and the relevant planning application must be accompanied by an environmental impact statement, EIS.