Written answers

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to address the ongoing issues regarding the implementation of the ban on turf cutting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13043/13]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy 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 Special 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 7th of 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 a 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 Plan will provide for the long-term protection of Ireland’s raised bog SACs, will address the needs of turf-cutters and can unlock the flexibility available for dealing with the most difficult of bogs, within the terms of the Habitats Directive. My Department has sought and received tenders for carrying out the necessary scientific work which is required to underpin the long term conservation and restoration of these SACs and for completion of the National Plan. I expect to be in a position to announce the outcome of this tendering process shortly.

As part of the Plan, arrangements are now being made for the relocation of turf cutters to alternative bogs and these have already been finalised or are close to finalisation for a number of sites. Potential relocation sites have been identified for almost all of the remaining SACs where relocation of turf-cutters will be required. Monetary compensation or the delivery of turf is available to qualifying applicants as an interim measure, while the development of relocation sites and the completion of the national plan are awaited. To-date in the region of €3.4 million has been paid in compensation, by way of annuity payments and deliveries of cut turf to applicants under the cessation of turf cutting scheme, which was established to compensate those impacted by the need to cease cutting turf on these sites.

I am determined that, in collaboration with the Peatlands Council and local turf-cutting communities, substantial progress will be made on the 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. I hope that the National Plan can be completed by November, in time to submit an application to the European Commission under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, if required, prior to the 2014 cutting season. However, the engagement and agreement of turf-cutting communities to its proposed approaches will be essential to meeting this timeline and to unlocking the potential flexibility it offers.

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