Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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708. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason for the delay in delisting bogs that were designated national heritage areas (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26169/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network waspublished in January 2014and concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas. 46 natural heritage areas (including parts of 7 natural heritage areas) are scheduled for de-designation. One of these sites is that referred to in the Deputy’s Question.

Regulatory change will be required to give full effect to the de-designation of the sites. The appropriate form of this change is being considered within my Department and I expect that the process will be completed by the end of the year.