Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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236. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the future plans for Slieve Bog, Dunmore, County Galway; if there are plans to make it a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47887/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Slieve Bog is within a raised bog Natural Heritage Area (NHA). In May 2010, the previous Government decided that turf cutting should come to an end on all raised bog NHAs, including Slieve Bog, at the end of 2013.

However, as part of an undertaking given in the current Programme for Government , my Department is carrying out a review of raised bog NHAs, which will consider, inter alia, the future of turf cutting on such sites. To assist in this task, my Department has engaged a team of consultants who are undertaking the scientific work which will underpin the review.

It is intended that the review, which will be completed shortly, will provide clarity for turf-cutters and land-owners on Slieve Bog and in other raised bog NHAs in advance of the 2014 turf-cutting season.