Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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26. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with 17 years of attempting to implement the habitats directive having resulted in only partial relocation of domestic turf cutters from two of the 53 so-called special areas of conservation raised bogs, if her views that efforts to resolve the problems imposed upon domestic turf cutters by the Government's designation of these raised bogs have been half hearted and lacklustre at best, despite the fact that a template document proposing the basis for a solution was presented to the Government and the European Commission by the Turf Cutters and Contractors' Association in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16848/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since this Government has come into office, huge efforts have been made to resolve 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 much engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission. A long term compensation scheme was introduced to compensate cutters for their loss.

The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan was published in January 2014. It sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. The draft Plan sets out the demanding tests which must be met before turf cutting could be consented to within the provisions of the Habitats Directive. The final Plan will clarify whether the relevant provisions of the Directive could be applicable for any particular special area of conservation and will seek to establish whether sufficient consensus can be achieved at a national level to make a successful case to the European Commission for flexibility in accordance with article 6.4 of the Directive.

Work is on-going with stakeholders with a view to the finalisation of the National Plan.

This National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan responds to the central recommendation of Mr. Justice Quirke arising out of the 2012 Peatlands Forum.

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

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

A further 7 qualifying turf cutters from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog are being accommodated at Cloonabricka Bog in County Galway where turf cutting is scheduled to commence next year.

Works have been undertaken on Lemanaghan Bog in County Offaly with a view to facilitating 12 qualifying turf cutters from Moyclare Bog special area of conservation. 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 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.

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 Habitats Directive.

This is a very complex issue with each site having its own challenges. Final resolution will only be brought 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.