Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which full and-or final settlement has been achieved in respect of displaced turf cutters in County Kildare arising from the application of SACs and NHAs; and if any further issues that remain outstanding are being addressed in this context [20122/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

174 applications under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been acknowledged by my Department in respect of Mouds Bog and 60 applications in respect of Ballynafagh Bog in County Kildare. A total of 475 annual payments, 187 turf deliveries and 38 once-off incentive payments have been made in respect of the applications received from Mouds Bog and 124 annual payments, 20 turf deliveries and 15 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.

Due to the issues involved in terms of a relocation site for turf cutters from Mouds Bog, my Department, in consultation with turf cutter interests, has been considering whether consent could be given to cut turf on this site under article 6.3 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 by rigorous scientific investigations that such cutting will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the site.

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.

Carbury Bog natural heritage area in County Kildare is one of the natural heritage areas which is to remain designated as a natural heritage area arising from the review.

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. Hodgestown Bog natural heritage area in County Kildare is one of those scheduled for de-designation arising from the review.