Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the level of consultation and discussions he has had with the EU and the Commission in relation to ensuring that areas designated as national heritage areas are not subject to such restrictions that could inhibit persons from harvesting turf for their own use, and in particular that his Department would progress these discussions to a definitive conclusion, which would facilitate persons to utilise these areas for turf cutting without restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32201/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In May 2010, the then Government decided that turf-cutting should come to an end on all raised bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). The Programme for Government undertook to review the situation with regard to NHAs and the future of turf-cutting on such sites will be considered as part of that review.

It is expected that the review will be completed prior to the commencement of the 2014 turf-cutting season.

Relevant issues in relation to EU law will be fully explored with the European Commission as part of the review process.