Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 975: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there is EU or Exchequer funding available for developing designated bog areas; the amount of such funding each year for the past 10 years; the amount to be spent in 2009; the breakdown of this funding; the areas involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33559/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland is required to protect habitats of European importance under the Habitats Directive 1992, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. In accordance with the Directive, Ireland has nominated certain raised and blanket bogs, which are priority natural habitats under the Directive, as candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs). In addition, Ireland has also designated other raised and blanket bogs as natural heritage areas (NHAs) under the 2000 Wildlife Act. All raised and blanket bog, SACs and NHAs are listed in the table below.

My Department provides funding for compensation of turf cutters who cease cutting and for the purchase of freehold or turbary rights on these designated sites with a view to their protection and, where appropriate, restoration. The following sums have been expended on this in the last 10 years:

In 2009, having regard to available resources, expenditure is expected to be just under €4.7m. The breakdown is expected to be about €3.7m to be paid to commercial cutters and €1m for purchase of turbary rights or freehold of domestic turf cutters. A list of the bogs concerned is attached, including the counties in which they are located. Purchases of freehold or turbary rights of domestic cutters are mainly confined to raised bogs, and especially to those 32 raised bogs designated before 1999, on which cutting is due to end this year. These bogs are listed as the first 32 in the table.