Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the recently announced figures for compensation for the cessation of turf cutting on special areas of conservation bogs includes the compensation issued by him in the past, that is, compensation awarded before the current Government came into power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42140/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy would be aware, this Government put in place a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters 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 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 for qualifying turf cutters will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

As of 1 October 2012, 2,401 applications have been received by my Department under the scheme. 1,461 payments and 58 deliveries of turf have been made with an additional 146 requests for the delivery of turf approved by my Department. The total expenditure under the scheme to date is €2.28 million approximately. My Department updates these figures on a regular basis.

The above figures do not include expenditure for land purchase under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, first introduced in 1999, or the interim compensation scheme which was introduced in 2010 and which applied to the 31 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999.