Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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344. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an appeal to the Peatlands Council by a person (details supplied). [9092/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Applicants to the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, administered by my Department, may appeal their case to the Peatlands Council in the event that they are informed that the qualifying criteria of the scheme have not been met. The Council may then make recommendations to me, as Minister, on such cases.

While the terms of reference in relation to the Peatlands Council’s appeals function have been agreed between the Council and myself, as Minister, the operation of the appeals function is a matter for the Council itself.

I am advised that the Appeals Sub Group of the Peatlands Council intends to consider the case referred to in the Deputy’s Question, amongst others, at its next meeting scheduled for 31 May 2016 and to determine the recommendation it will make to the Peatlands Council.

I understand that it is intended that the Peatlands Council will hold its next meeting in early June 2016 and the recommendation of the Appeals Sub Group in this case will be considered at that meeting with a view to finalisation of this appeal.