Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, administered by my Department, 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.

An application for compensation under the scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of year 1 of 15 (2011) and a payment of €1,500 in respect of year 2 of 15 (2012) have been made to the applicant.

Following an inspection by an official of my Department of the plot of bog in respect of which the applicant has applied for compensation, it appears that turf, to meet the needs of a domestic household, had not been cut on this site during the relevant five year period.

An official from my Department wrote to the applicant in December 2013 informing him that he did not fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme and outlining the appeal process in the event that the applicant wished to appeal this decision of the Department.