Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) will receive payment for a special area of conservation bog offered to his Department in 2005 and which was closed to turf cutting in 2010; the reason for the delay in making payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32804/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In May 2010, the voluntary bog purchase scheme was closed to new applicants. Processing of applications on hand has been slower than anticipated due to capacity constraints in undertaking the conveyancing work involved. The time it takes to process applications can also vary depending on the legal complexities involved.

The Chief State Solicitor's Office has forwarded the contract for the sale of the site referred to in the Deputy's question for execution and this contract is currently under review by officials of my Department. Following the conclusion of this review, I expect that the CSSO will be in contact with the applicant's solicitor in due course with a view to closing this sale.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) will receive payment for a special area of conservation bog offered to his Department in 2005 and which was closed to turf cutting in 2010; the reason for the delay in making payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32808/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In May 2010, the voluntary bog purchase scheme was closed to new applicants. Processing of applications on hand has been slower than anticipated due to capacity constraints in undertaking the conveyancing work involved. The time it takes to process applications can also vary depending on the legal complexities involved.

With regard to the site referred to in the question, a letter of offer issued to the applicant on 15 June 2006 and the contract for the sale of the site was forwarded by the applicant's solicitor to my Department on 5 May 2010. Officials from my Department have examined this contract and are awaiting clearance from the Chief State Solicitor's Office in order to forward the file to that office.

It is acknowledged that some applicants have been waiting for some time for their sales to complete. My Department will be writing to all remaining applicants under the voluntary bog purchase scheme in the coming weeks to outline their options in light of recent policy decisions regarding the availability of alternative compensation arrangements.