Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding payment for bogland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [40119/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The land referred to by the Deputy is located in a natural heritage area designated in 2003.

In May 2010, the previous Government decided that turf cutting should come to an end on all raised bog natural heritage areas at the end of 2013. However, as set out in the Programme for Government, the current Government undertook to review the situation with regard to raised bog natural heritage areas.

This review is currently underway and the future of turf cutting on such sites is being considered as part of that review. It is my intention that the review will provide clarity for turf cutters and landowners, in advance of the 2014 turf cutting season and my Department will be contacting individual landowners and turf cutters on these sites in due course.

In April 2011, the Government made a decision to put in place a compensation scheme for those who have been required to cease cutting on the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation and my Department is giving priority to implementing this scheme. In the circumstances, and in light of the decision to review the approach to natural heritage areas more generally, the issue of any further purchase of land or rights in natural heritage area bogs, including the land referred to in the Deputy’s Question, is being kept under review.