Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend the ten year derogation on designated bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3756/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend the ten year derogation on bogs designated prior to 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3757/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding turf cutting; if there has been discussion between him and his counterparts in Europe in relation to allowing people with hopper machines to be able to cut turf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3989/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 43 and 213 together.

Blanket Bogs and Raised bogs are important natural habitats and are home to unique ecosystems containing rare flora and fauna. Both are protected habitats under European and Irish Law and representative samples have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive or Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) under the Wildlife Acts. Ireland has some of the most ecologically important bogs in the European Union.

In 1999, when the first of these sites were designated for nature protection all commercial cutting on these bogs was stopped and the then Minister granted a 10 year grace period for those who were cutting turf for their personal domestic use to find alternative sources of fuel. This 10 year period expires this year for 32 raised bog SACs.

Blanket bogs, which occur predominantly on the Western seaboard but also in Wicklow and the midlands, can tolerate a certain amount of turf extraction without compromising their value as habitats and it is envisaged that cutting on Blanket Bog SAC's can continue, except in very sensitive areas, under the current restrictions, which prohibits commercial extraction and the use of "sausage" machines.

Raised bogs occur predominantly in the midlands. There are over 1,500 raised bogs in the State and only 139 of these are designated for nature protection as SACs or NHAs. The continued cutting of turf, by hand or machine, and associated drainage on these designated raised bogs is incompatible with their preservation. Even with the restricted cutting that was introduced in 1999, over one third of the best bog habitat on these sites has been lost in ten years.

There is a legal obligation on the State to take measures to ensure the protection of this essential and irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. Therefore, in the light of the scientific evidence, it would not be appropriate to grant an extension to the derogation in these areas. I will shortly bring a proposal to Government with a view to putting arrangements in place to facilitate the transition to a full cessation of turf cutting on 32 raised bogs by the end of 2009, and to the remaining number of designated bogs in 2012 and 2014.

There has been no discussion about the use of hopper machines — the use of such machines is permitted wherever turf cutting is permitted. The use of "sausage" machines is not permitted on designated bogs.