Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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548. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications for relocation under the turf cutting compensation scheme that have been received by her Department; the number of these that have been processed; have been successful; have been unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19499/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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745 applicants under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. 8 of these applicants have been informed by my Department that it has been decided that they do not fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. These applicants have been provided with the opportunity to appeal against the decisions of my Department to the Peatlands Council.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 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.

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 this regard, my Department has written to almost 300 turf cutters from 18 special area of conservation bogs seeking expressions of interest in relocation to specific sites. The Department is moving forward in the relocation process where sufficient interest has been received in relocation to particular sites.

While the various stages in the relocation process are on-going, turf cutters may avail of €1,500, index-linked, or 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.

Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the remaining raised bog special areas of conservation where relocation may be required. 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.