Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

15. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress on the relocation of turf cutter on bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation; and the efforts being made by her Department to find suitable alternatives for relocation. [10171/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

3,064 applications have been received under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation. Of these, 781 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Notwithstanding the complexity involved, 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 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 have also been completed at 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 at Lemanaghan Bog and 8 turf cutters can be accommodated at Cloonabricka Bog from 2016.

Progress has been made to relocate a small number of individual turf cutters to bog plots in County Westmeath and County Galway.

Potential relocation sites had 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. In 2014, my Department wrote to over 250 turf cutters, from 14 special areas of conservation, seeking expressions of interest in relocating to specific non-designated bogs. It is expected to continue the process this year.

However, for a number of these special area of conservation sites, the relocation site identified may not be suitable or may not have the capacity to cater for the number of turf cutters who may wish to relocate there. In such cases, and in the context of the finalisation of the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, my Department is considering the available options in terms of relocation and the provisions of the EU Habitats Directive. Under Article 6.3 of the Directive, consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog special area of conservation where it can be shown that such cutting will not have an adverse effect on the site. Under Article 6.4 of the Directive, consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog special area of conservation for imperative reasons of overriding public interest.

Given the clear scientific evidence of the negative impact of turf extraction on raised bogs, it will only be possible to utilise the provisions of Article 6.3 in a small number of cases. Similarly, the flexibility provided for under Article 6.4, if required, will only be applicable to a small number of sites.