Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if owners of bogland have to obtain planning permission to cut turf on their land; if so, the locations where in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8673/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development Regulations 2005 generally exempt peat extraction below a threshold of ten 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, 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 or natural heritage areas, these are subject to a separate control system which is unaffected by the change to the regulations.