Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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667. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if mutual agreement has been reached on the impact of special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas on traditional turf cutters using the various bogs in County Kildare; if all outstanding issues have been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44173/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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171 applications under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Mouds Bog and 60 applications in respect of Ballynafagh Bog in County Kildare. A total of 361 annual payments, 187 turf deliveries and 34 once-off incentive payments have been made in respect of the applications received from Mouds Bog and 107 annual payments, 20 turf deliveries and 13 once-off incentive payments have been made in respect of the applications received from Ballynafagh Bog. 78 applicants from Mouds Bog and 23 applicants from Ballynafagh Bog have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. Discussions are on-going with qualifying applicants from Ballynafagh Bog with a view to relocation to a non-designated bog in close proximity.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, which is available to download from my Department’s website at , provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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668. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of locations which are the subject of discussions between traditional turf cutters and her Department, as affected by special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas where outstanding issues remain; if she is confident of an amicable solution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44174/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Up to 3,377 applications have been received under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas. Of these, 719 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. Notwithstanding the complexity involved, progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs has been achieved in a number of cases.

Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the raised bog special areas of conservation where relocation may be required. 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 in the region of 400 turf cutters seeking expressions of interest in relocation to specific non-designated sites. My Department is moving forward with the steps in the relocation process where there is a sufficient level of interest in relocation to particular sites.

Given the clear scientific evidence of the negative impact of turf extraction on raised bogs, it will only be possible to utilise the provisions of article 6.3 in a small number of cases. Similarly, the flexibility provided for under article 6.4, if required, will only be applicable to a small number of sites.

The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan was published in January 2014. It sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. It is expected that this Plan will be finalised early next year.