Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if domestic turf cutting on all blanket bogs will continue as has been promised and is the tradition in many parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32553/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A small fraction of Ireland's peatlands are designated for conservation purposes. Ireland is obliged to protect these designated peatlands, whether they are blanket bogs or raised bogs. While all threats to the conservation status of designated blanket bogs must be kept under review, I envisage that domestic turf cutting, by turbary owners or those who have been exercising cutting rights, may continue on less sensitive parts of blanket bogs, subject to an end to cutting in certain sensitive areas, which will be identified on scientific grounds.