Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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118. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in regard to an application (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reasons it was not included in recent granted applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53425/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that:

- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;

- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;

- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;

- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and

- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.

Following two inspections by officials of my Department of the plot of bog in respect of which the applicant has applied for compensation, it appears that no turf has been cut on the land during the relevant five year period. My Department has indicated to the solicitor acting for the applicant that it appears that no turf has been cut on the land during the relevant five year period. The solicitor has requested that the case be reviewed by the Department and the outcome of this review will be forwarded to the solicitor in the coming weeks.