Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is widespread opposition to the proposal to transfer the fee simple and rights of turbary on plot Nos. 7, 17, 19, 25-33, 44-49, 52, on 10.307 hectares in the townland of Meelickmore, Barony of Dunmore, County Galway from the Irish Land Commission to the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the transfer of fee simple only and subject to rights of turbary of plot Nos. 22, 23, 24 are also involved; if he is aware that the local landholders adjacent to this property tendered to purchase these bogs a number of years ago but were never notified of the result and urgently want this process to be stopped, particularly in view of the difficult circumstances that many bog owners now find themselves in across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38403/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I understand that it has been established practice for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to offer the opportunity to my Department from time to time to acquire land or turbary rights which it holds on former Land Commission sites, such as those referred to in the Deputy's Question. As Minister, I consider that there is significant potential value for my Department in having access to such lands, most particularly in cases where the relocation of turf cutters affected by the requirement to cease the cutting of turf on Ireland's 53 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation might be facilitated.

I would, of course, be happy to discuss with the Deputy any issues around the acquisition of the particular sites referred to, in the context of the overall efforts by my Department to meet the needs of turf cutters affected by the cessation requirements.