Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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612. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39469/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was received on 21 October 2015 by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. 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.

I am advised that an affidavit has been issued to the applicant in relation to the legal interest in the bog plot on which he claims to have been cutting turf. Once the affidavit has been returned, my Department will be in a position to process the application further.