Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if all outstanding issues arising from the impact on landowners of special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas, with particular reference to traditional farming activities and turf cutting, have been satisfactorily resolved; if the European authorities has responded to submissions made in this regard; if an equilibrium is likely to emerge in respect of the contentious issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43495/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive. This Directive aims to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. The Habitats Directive has been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.It is recognised that the nomination of a site for designation as a special area of conservation may have an impact on the manner in which certain lands may be farmed. The designation of lands does not mean that the lands are subject to blanket restrictions. However, they must be managed appropriately.

In accordance with the relevant legislation, certain activities in protected sites may only be undertaken with my consent, as Minister. Compensation may be payable where a person has been refused consent by me for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal. However, compensation schemes have generally been put in place, where required, without the need to undergo a formal process under the relevant legislation.

Since this Government has come into office, huge efforts have been made to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation, within the framework of the Habitats Directive. This has included intense and on-going engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission.

A long term compensation scheme has been introduced to compensate turf cutters for their loss arising from the cessation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500.

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.

Final resolution of all issues in relation to the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation will only be brought about by everyone working together, within the law, with my Department and with the Peatlands Council, which was established with the purpose of ensuring the input from all stakeholders.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas. The Reviewhas 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.