Written answers

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs

Appointments to State Bodies

9:00 pm

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if he will consider a representative of a group (details supplied) to be a member of his newly established Peatland Council in view of the fact that currently there is no representative of domestic turf cutter. [10386/11]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There are 139 raised bogs designated for protection within Special Areas of Conservation or Natural Heritage Areas. The Deputy will appreciate it would not be possible to include representation from interested parties on each of these bogs within the Peatlands Council. I have endeavoured to ensure national representation for turf cutters through the participation of the Irish Farmers Association, the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association and Irish Rural Link.

The input of groups such as that mentioned in the Deputy's Question will play an important role in the work of the Council. It is open to the group referred to by the Deputy to input to the deliberations of the Council directly or through the organisations mentioned above.

In that regard, I understand that the Council is willing to meet with interested community or representative groups in order to hear their views, concerns and potential approaches to the long-term management of these sites.

The Council may be contacted at the following address: The Secretary, Peatlands Council, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, by e-mail at peatlandscouncil@environ.ie or by phone at 01 8883207.

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