Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding an application for the sale of Turbary Rights in County Roscommon in respect of a person (details supplied) and when this application will be approved for payment. [19631/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Having regard to available budgetary resources, priority is being given under the bog purchase scheme to those wishing to sell their interest in the 32 raised bog sites which were nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation between 1997 and 1999. The person in question owns land within a Special Area of Conservation designated at that time. Therefore, priority is being given to his application. My Department will be in further contact with the applicant as the sale proceeds.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of farmers that are awaiting payment for bogs sold back to his Department in Special Areas of Conservation in which farmers were prohibited from cutting turf due to EU Directive; when he will commence payment to these farmers; and if these farmers will be paid interest on their agreed sale price in view of the number of years they have had to wait for payment. [19632/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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There are approximately 1,200 active applications to sell land or turbary rights to my Department for which contracts have yet to be signed. In some of these cases my Department has issued letters of offer to the applicants. There are also some 250 cases for which contracts have been executed, subject to title, and the sale is awaiting closure by the legal representatives.

Having regard to available budgetary resources, my Department is continuing to process applications. At present, priority is being given under the bog purchase scheme to those wishing to sell their interest in the 32 raised bog sites which were nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation between 1997 and 1999. For these sites the ten year derogation, which allowed the continuation of turf cutting for personal domestic use, has now expired.

In cases where my Department has not entered into contracts of sale, interest will not be payable and I do not envisage any undue delay in payment where contracts have been signed and title proved to allow closure of the sale.