Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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30. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of turfcutters on designated bog that have been allocated new bog plots since May 2014; the number and locations that it is expected will be allocated a new plot by the end of 2014 and by 1 June 2015 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40157/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Some 3,017 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, 814 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs.Relocation is a complex process in terms of:

- investigating suitable sites for turf quality and quantity;

- the infrastructure/drainage works required;

- establishing the number that can be accommodated on the site;

- the cost and feasibility of land purchase or lease; and

- possible planning and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements.

Notwithstanding this complexity, progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in a number of cases and arrangements have been made to date as regards:

- Clara Bog special area of conservation in Co Offaly, where 25 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on Killeranny Bog; and

- Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog special areas of conservation in Co Galway, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on the Islands Bog and Killasolan Bog.

Works have been undertaken on Lemanaghan Bog in County Offaly with a view to facilitating turf cutters from Moyclare Bog. Works are also underway in Cloonabricka Bog in County Galway to facilitate additional cutters relocating from Carrownagappul and Curraghlehanagh Bogs.

It is expected that 12 turf cutters can be accommodated on Lemanaghan Bog and 8 turf cutters can be accommodated on Cloonabricka Bog.

Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the remaining raised bog special areas of conservation where relocation may be required. When relocation sites have been assessed as suitable, my Department has been seeking expressions of interest from turf cutters with a view to them moving to these sites. Since July of this year, my Department has written to 184 turf cutters from 13 special area of conservation bogs seeking expressions of interest in relocating to non-designated bogs. As many of the factors involved in finalising relocation projects are outside my Department's control, it is not possible to give definitive figures on how many cutters will be facilitated within a given time period.