Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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81. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total number of traditional turf cutters with whom agreement has been reached arising from SACs or NHAs throughout the country and in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24953/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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A total of 2,959 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have been received and acknowledged by my Department. Of these, 820 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. A total of 4,596 payments and 503 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these applications. In addition, 1,266 legal agreements have been returned to my Department and 1,104 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made to date to applicants in respect of these legal agreements. Progress in relocating turf cutters is being achieved in a number of cases.

Arrangements for the relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs have been made as regards a group from Clara Bog special area of conservation in County Offaly and a group from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog special areas of conservation in County Galway. The group from Clara Bog commenced turf cutting at the relocation site in Killeranny, County Offaly, in June 2012, where 25 qualifying turf cutters have now been accommodated. 23 qualifying turf cutters from the group from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog have been accommodated at the Islands Bog and Killasolan Bog, County Galway from the 2014 turf cutting season.

Progress has been made with a view to the relocation of 9 qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog special area of conservation in County Kildare to Timahoe North, County Kildare, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna. The site has been available for turf cutting during this season. However, turf cutters have not agreed with my Department to cut turf there.

Progress has also been made with a view to the relocation of qualifying turf cutters from Moyclare Bog special area of conservation in County Offaly to Lemanaghan Bog, County Offaly, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna, from the 2015 turf cutting season.

My Department has provided 7 turf cutters from Monivea Bog special area of conservation with the possibility of relocating to a number of sites which have been assessed as suitable for relocation:

- Killaclogher Bog, Abbert Demense, County Galway which could accommodate 11 turf cutters;

- Clogh, Cloonkeen Bog, Attymon, County Galway, which could accommodate 14 turf cutters; and

- Gortnalone South, Cloonkeen Bog, Attymon, County Galway which could accommodate 10 turf cutters.

Due to the number of turf plots available, my Department is also endeavouring to determine whether other turf cutters may be interested in relocating to one of these sites.

Lattins Bog, also known as Mouds North Bog, in County Kildare, has been identified as a potential relocation site for turf cutters from Mouds Bog special area of conservation. Bord na Móna has undertaken a full suitability assessment for the site and my Department has provided a copy of the assessment report to the Secretary of the Committee of the Kildare Turf Cutters Association. This report illustrates that 19 turf cutters could be accommodated on the site. Bord na Móna, in consultation with my Department, is investigating the potential for the accommodation of additional turf cutters on the site.

Relocation sites have also been assessed as suitable for turf cutters from Ardgraigue Bog, Moanveanlagh Bog and Redwood Bog special areas of conservation. Due to the small number of turf cutters from these bogs who have expressed an interest in relocation and to the number of plots available, my Department is endeavouring to ascertain whether other turf cutters may be interested in relocation to these sites.

I am advised that of the remaining 43 raised bog special areas of conservation, potential relocation sites have been identified for a further 28 bogs and work is on-going on identifying and investigating sites. Relocation is unlikely to be required, or is likely to be small-scale, for another 15 raised bog special areas of conservation due, for example, to the small number that had been cutting turf on these sites during the relevant five year qualification period.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs),which is available to download from my Department’s website at , provides details on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 raised bog natural heritage areas.

Carbury Bog NHA in County Kildare is one of the NHAs which are to be conserved. In the case of this bog, the review envisages the cessation of turf cutting on the site by 1 January 2017 to preserve its conservation value. Turf cutting may continue on the bog until that date, on plots that have been cut in the five year period prior to the Government decision of 14 January 2014 on the NHA review.

To ensure that cutting does not intensify over the next 3 years, owners of plots or of turbary rights who have cut over the past 5 years must obtain a permit to cut from my Department. Contractors are also obliged to obtain permits.

The NHA review also envisages the complete or partial de-designation of 46 existing NHAs where turf cutting may continue into the future. In these de-designation cases, it will not be necessary for individuals to seek consent to cut turf. Hodgestown Bog NHA in County Kildare is one of these de-designation cases.

Any turf cutter required to cease turf cutting on an NHA is being offered compensatory measures similar to those available to turf cutters from raised bog special areas of conservation. Such compensation will be available to qualifying persons with effect from 2014.

My Department has issued in the region of 250 compensation forms in relation to NHA sites and 50 completed forms have been received. My Department has also received 129 permit applications in relation to NHA sites, resulting in 90 permits to cut turf until the end of 2016 being issued. 5 permits to cut turf have also been issued to contractors.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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82. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total compensation paid to traditional to date to traditional turf cutters being discommoded or displaced arising from SACs or NHAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24954/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department has operated a number of compensation schemes applicable to those who have been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas for domestic use. In 1999 a voluntary bog purchase scheme was established under which individuals with a legal interest in designated raised bog sites could apply to sell their interest in these areas to my Department at set rates. This scheme was revised and increased rates introduced in 2004. Since May 2010, this scheme is closed to new applicants.

Also in May 2010, the then Government announced the establishment of an interim compensation scheme applicable to the 31 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999. This scheme offered a compensation payment of €1,000 in respect of 2010 to those who ceased cutting turf in these designated sites.

In April 2011, the present Government put in place a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This scheme provides for a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment, or the delivery of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum, while relocation sites are identified and prepared. An additional once-off payment of €500 for qualifying turf cutters is provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas,which is available to download from my Department’s website at , envisages the cessation of turf cutting on 36 natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 to preserve their conservation value. Any turf cutter required to cease turf cutting on a natural heritage area is being offered compensatory measures similar to those available to turf cutters from raised bog special areas of conservation. Such compensation will be available to qualifying applicants with effect from 2014.

Details of the total expenditure to date on these schemes are set out in the following table: