Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has provided funding to the parks and wildlife service for the acquisition of Mouds Bog, a special area of conservation in County Kildare; if so, the amount of bogland that was acquired; the price for which said land was purchased; the restoration works or otherwise that have been carried on the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8916/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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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. Mouds Bog in County Kildare is designated as a raised bog special area of conservation. Under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, my Department has purchased freehold title to over 90 acres and turbary rights over a further 12.7 acres of Mouds Bog. These were purchased for a total cost in the region of €430,000. No restoration work has as yet been undertaken on this bog by my Department. Once turf cutting has ended on raised bog special areas of conservation, conservation objectives will be drawn up and a draft management plan will be discussed with local land owners for each designated site. These issues will be considered within the wider context of a national strategy on peatland conservation and management.