Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to review the designation and purchase of bog in view of the current financial restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18061/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Bogs are important natural habitats and are home to unique ecosystems containing rare flora and fauna. Both blanket bogs and raised bogs are protected habitats under European and Irish Law and representative examples have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive or as Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) under the Wildlife Acts. Ireland has some of the most ecologically important examples of bog habitats in the European Union. In 1999, when the first of these sites was designated for nature protection, all commercial cutting on these bogs was stopped and the then Minister granted a ten year grace period for those who were cutting turf for their personal domestic use to find alternative sources of fuel.

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. It is envisaged that cutting on Blanket Bog SACs and NHAs can continue, except in very sensitive areas, under the current restrictions, which prohibit 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 restrictions in cutting that were introduced in 1999, over one third of the best bog habitat on these sites has been lost in ten years. It is clear that more needs to be done if we are to meet our obligation to protect this important habitat.

The Habitats Directive imposes 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 of continuing damage to these valuable habitats, it would not be appropriate to review the designations in these areas. It is necessary to put arrangements in place to provide for more effective protection of these habitats, which will necessitate the transition to a cessation of turf cutting on the small number of designated raised bogs.

I have established an inter-Departmental working group to consider how best to achieve this and to assess the resources that will be required. This group will consult with interested parties and representative groups, and report back to me later this year. In the meantime, the voluntary bog purchase scheme will continue, subject to the availability of financial and administrative resources. Under this scheme, priority will be given to acquiring turbary rights on the 32 raised bog SACs on which cutting is to end this year.