Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the discussions she has had or proposes to have with traditional turf cutters affected by special areas of conservation and national heritage areas with a view to resolving any outstanding issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40648/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has had detailed engagement with turf-cutters affected by the designation and protection of raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). This has occurred at national level through numerous meetings with representative groups, including detailed discussions at the Peatlands Council, at local level through discussions with public representatives and at the personal level, through direct contact between officials and individual turf-cutters. The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan and review of raised bog NHAs, published in January with the draft National Peatlands Strategy, set out how these sites are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. Both documents have been subject to public consultation and will be finalised in the coming months.

The needs of turf-cutters are being addressed through the provision of compensation or through relocation to other nearby non-designated bogs and the vast majority of affected turf-cutters are engaging with my Department. 3,017 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have been received by my Department. Of these, 814 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs.

6,116 payments and 610 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these applications. In addition, 1,373 legal agreements have been returned to my Department and 1,197 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made in respect of these legal agreements. Total expenditure to date amounts to over €10.9 million since this Government introduced the compensation arrangements for affected turf cutters.

Since the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended this year to raised bog Natural Heritage Areas, 147 applications for compensation in respect of these sites have been received by my Department. Of these, 4 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. 68 payments have been made in respect of the applications received.

Progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in a number of cases and arrangements have been made as regards:

- Clara Bog in County Offaly, where 25 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on Killeranny Bog; and

- Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog in County Galway, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on the Islands Bog and Killasolan Bog.

Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the remaining raised bog SACs where relocation may be required. However, relocation is a complex process with many issues to be resolved for each individual site.

My Department will continue to engage with turf-cutters on these sites to ensure that their needs are addressed and that the future of these valuable ecological resources is secured for the benefit of this and future generations.