Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will advise of the status of a plan (details supplied); the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3589/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Last April, together with Minister Hogan, I met Commissioner Potočnik in Brussels, where we secured his support for developing a National Raised Bog S pecial Area of Conservation (SAC) Management Plan. This was in keeping with the recommendations of Justice Quirke following his report on the Peatlands Forum. It was also in line with the motion agreed unanimously by Dáil Éireann on 7 March 2012, which called on the Government to “engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive, and to prepare and submit a National Raised Bog Restoration Plan to the Commission as a matter of urgency". My Department has prepared an outline document detailing the proposed approach to the development of the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan. The document is available on my Department’s website at .

The proposals made at the Peatlands Forum identified relocation as a viable proposition for the majority of our raised bog SACs. The primary focus of the national plan, therefore, is to develop a long-term conservation approach to each of the sites, with relocation options for those who wish to continue turf-cutting. Financial compensation is also available to affected turf-cutters as an alternative to relocation. Arrangements are now being made for the relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs and these have been finalised, or are close to finalisation, for a number of sites. 15 of the 53 sites will not require relocation arrangements to be made - for example, where little or no turf-cutting has occurred for many years. Potential relocation options have been identified for a further 31 SACs, including the SAC referred to in the Deputy’s Question. Work is ongoing to investigate the suitability of these relocation sites. If, following an in-depth examination, there are a small number of SACs where there are genuinely no alternatives in terms of relocation, the national plan may be able to provide some flexibility in this regard.

I am determined that, in collaboration with the Peatlands Council and local turf-cutting communities, substantial progress will be made on the national plan over the coming months. My Department has stepped up contact with turf-cutting groups to seek long-term resolutions to the issues for their particular bogs, in compliance with EU and national law. In addition, my Department has recently sought tenders for carrying out the necessary scientific research, which is essential to underpin the long-term conservation and restoration of these SACs and which will be required for completion of the national plan.