Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of turf cutters in counties Cavan, Longford and Westmeath who have turbary rights in the general Lough Sheelin area; the efforts being made to address adequately such concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26038/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am fully aware of the concerns of turf cutters on Moneybeg / Clare Island raised bog Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Direct discussions were held between officials from my Department and turf-cutters from this SAC in February of this year at the Peatlands Forum in Athlone and a further meeting took place on 6 May which they again outlined their concerns. My officials are available for further discussions and to assist the group in terms of meeting the requirements of turf-cutters. Over fifty applications have been received from turf-cutters on this SAC seeking compensation or relocation and these applications are being processed in my Department.