Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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1206. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) will receive compensation under the turf cessation scheme for 2014 and 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37968/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question.

I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2012) and a payment of €1,518 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2013) have been made to this applicant. The qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:

- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;

- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;

- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;

- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and

- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.

My Department has been in contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (as successor to the Irish Land Commission) in relation to the legal interest in the bog plot on which the applicant claims to have been cutting turf. Contact has also been made with the applicant in relation to the location of this plot.

Once these matters have been clarified, my Department will be in a position to process this application further.