Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has to deal with the difficulties encountered by turf cutters on the Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs in counties Meath and Westmeath, who wish to avail of the relocation option and such option is not viable for such applicants due to the non-availability of a suitable bog within a reasonable distance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24962/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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88 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs raised bog special area of conservation. 12 of these applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. 71 payments and 2 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received.

I am advised that Bord na Móna has undertaken preliminary assessments of five potential relocation sites for turf cutters from Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs, on behalf of my Department. On the basis of this assessment of two of the sites, Bord na Móna is to undertake a stratigraphy assessment of these sites in order to get a better indication of the quality and quantity of peat there. The assessment of the other three sites indicates that they would not be suitable relocation sites.

My Department has written to those applicants, who qualify under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme on the basis of self-certification and who have expressed an interest in relocation, updating them on the situation.

A payment of €1,500, index-linked, or a supply of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum is available under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to qualifying applicants from Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs while awaiting relocation to a non-designated bog. For those applicants opting for the delivery of turf while awaiting relocation, there is flexibility in the provision of additional turf to other family members who had been cutting on the same bog plot.