Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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264. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money he has spent on aerial observations of persons cutting turf from 22 June 2012 to 12 June 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29182/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department has made payments in the sum of €28,369 on aerial surveillance of turf cutting on raised bog Special Areas of Conservation in the period in question. Invoices in respect of a further €9,279 were received in my Department in the last few days, and are being processed at present.

It should be remembered that Ireland faces daily fines of up to €25,000 per day for failure to preserve Special Areas of Conservation which are protected under Irish and European law.