Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has received submissions from those affected by restrictions, under the Habitats Directive, affecting traditional turf cutters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10725/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. The Directives has been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Wildlife Acts.

In advance of the designation of a site, my Department writes to all identified land owners with a legal interest in the site, outlining the intention to designate the site, the appeals process and how to get further information. Public notices in relation to the proposed designation are also placed in local media.

Landowners may object to the proposed designation of a site as a special area of conservation or special protection area. Following the completion of a Departmental review of an objection to the proposed designation, landowners may opt to take their cases to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board, an independently chaired Board which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, on such cases. The appeals process includes an oral hearing.

Since this Government has come into office, huge efforts have been made to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland's raised bog special areas of conservation within the framework of the EU Habitats Directive. This has included intense engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission.

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. In addition, around 1,500 submissions would have been received from stakeholders, including turf cutters, during the public consultation process on the draft National Peatlands Strategy and the draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan.

Final resolution of all issues in relation to the protection of Ireland's raised bog special areas of conservation will only be brought about by everyone working together, within the law, with my Department and with the Peatlands Council, which was established with the purpose of ensuring the input from all stakeholders.