Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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632. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42528/15]

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 €1,521 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2014) has been made to this applicant.

The qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:

- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 36 raised bog Natural Heritage Areas – 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.