Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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454. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their bog compensation scheme payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29807/14]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy 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. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2011), a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2012) and a payment of €1,518 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2013) have been made to this applicant. A payment of €1,521 in respect of Year 4 of 15 (2014) has recently been approved for this applicant and will be made to him shortly.

In addition, a once-off payment of €500 has been made to the applicant in respect of the signing of a legal agreement under this scheme with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Photo of Paul ConnaughtonPaul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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455. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received compensation in view of the fact that they ceased cutting turf for the past number of years in the Monivea bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29831/14]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy 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.

The applicant indicated on his application form that he had cut turf on the designated site in question in 2012 and was therefore not eligible for compensation in respect of that year. In addition, no evidence of a legal interest in the site was supplied with the application. This has subsequently been supplied to my Department.

Following a reassessment of the application, I am advised that a payment of €1,518 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2013) and a payment of €1,521 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2014) have recently been approved for this applicant and will be made to him shortly.

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