Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will investigate the delay in payment for bog compensation and ensure that a person (details supplied) has their money paid over as quickly as possible in view of the fact that this landowner is entitled to the new compensation package and did not cut turf in 2011. [6133/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The individual referred to in the Question received payment under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme, administered by my Department, on the condition that he would permanently cease turf cutting on sites included in Special Areas of Conservation.

The individual has submitted an application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, announced by the Government in April 2011, in respect of lands he still holds in a Special Area of Conservation. This application is currently being assessed within my Department.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the numbers who have applied for turfcutter's compensation; if he will provide a breakdown of numbers for bogs in counties Galway and Roscommon and applicant numbers for County Leitrim; if he will put in place a compensation package for farmers who have bogs in these special areas of compensation and who have not cut turf in the past five years; and if the farmers who had sold bog land under the voluntary bog purchase scheme and who did not receive any payment will be compensated under this or a previous scheme, given that a small number of farmers did in fact sign contracts but have not received payment. [6151/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In April 2011, the Government announced a redress package for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation. The package offers qualifying turf cutters the option of a financial payment of €1,000 per year, index linked, over 15 years or, where feasible, relocation to non-designated bogs, where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of cut turf while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State.

My Department is currently processing almost 650 applications for compensation under this Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme. The majority of applications relate to the 29 raised bog special areas of conservation designated between 1997 and 1999 and for which the deadline for the receipt of applications has now passed. To date, 51 applicants have received payments under the scheme.

For the 24 sites designated up to 2002, the closing date for the receipt of applications was 29 February 2012 and, as such, more applications are expected to be received in the coming weeks.

If an individual has a legal interest in one of the 53 designated sites and had not been extracting turf in the relevant five year period, my Department is willing to examine the feasibility of relocating such interests to alternative non-designated bogs.

Details of the number of applications received under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme and the number of payments made to date for Cos Galway and Roscommon are set out in the table below.

There are no sites in Co Leitrim affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation.

Since 1999 my Department has operated a Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme under which sites in designated bogs have been purchased by the Department at agreed rates. In May 2010, this scheme was closed to new applicants. Where applicants under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme have received a letter of offer but contracts have not been signed, my Department will be writing to applicants to outline their options under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he will take to have a bog purchase deal completed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [6152/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The land referred to by the Deputy is located in a Natural Heritage Area (NHA) designated in 2004. In 2010, the then Government decided that turf-cutting should come to an end on raised bog NHAs at the end of 2013. However, the current Programme for Government contains an undertaking to review the situation with regard to turf cutting on NHAs.

On 15 April 2011, the Government made a number of decisions in relation to turf cutting in Ireland, including the putting in place of a compensation package for those who are required to cease cutting, the establishment of a Peatlands Council and the drawing up of a national strategy on peatland conservation and management. In the context of the national strategy, the position regarding raised bog NHAs, which are designated under national legislation, will be examined in advance of the 2014 cutting season in accordance with the Programme for Government.

My Department is giving priority to putting in place the compensation requirements in relation to the cessation of cutting on the 53 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. In the circumstances, and in light of the decision to review the approach to these areas more generally, the issue of any further purchase of land/rights in NHA bogs, including the land referred to, is being kept under review.