Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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188. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if turf cutters will be allowed to cut turf on a bog (details supplied); if it will be granted de-designation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20113/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced that the drafting of legislation to provide for the de-designation of 46 raised bog natural heritage area sites has now been approved and the General Scheme of the Bill has been referred for consideration by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.

The site referred to in the Deputy’s Question is a raised bog special area of conservation. It is not a natural heritage area which is scheduled for de-designation. Therefore, the restrictions on turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation, including on the site referred to in the Deputy’s Question, will not be affected by the proposed de-designation of the natural heritage areas in question.

In the context of the finalisation of the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, my Department is considering the available options for turf cutters in terms of relocation to non-designated bogs and the utilisation of the relevant provisions of the EU Habitats Directive. Under article 6.3 of the Directive consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog special area of conservation where it can be shown that such cutting will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the site. Under article 6.4 of the Directive consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog special area of conservation for imperative reasons of overriding public interest and where no alternatives exist.

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.

I am advised that, as my Department has identified a suitable relocation site for turf cutters from the special area of conservation site referred to by the Deputy, this site is not one of those sites for which the utilisation of article 6.3 or article 6.4 of the Directive is being considered.