Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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466. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the bogs she has recently designated as natural heritage areas. [21023/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 155 natural heritage areas. 75 raised bogs, which are located mainly in the midlands, and 73 blanket bogs, mostly in western areas, have been designated as natural heritage areas. In addition 7 natural heritage areas, identified as of particular importance to birds, have also been designated. I have not recently made an order designating land as a natural heritage area.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Networkwas published in January 2014. The review 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 by 1 January 2017 of turf-cutting on 36 existing natural heritage areas, which will remain designated - this includes 7 sites to be divided, with part to be conserved and part de-designated;

- The complete de-designation of 46 natural heritage areas - including the relevant areas of the 7 sites to be divided; and

- The designation as natural heritage areas of 25 currently undesignated raised bogs, which are in public ownership or where there is reduced turf cutting pressure, so as to compensate for the loss of habitat within the sites where it is proposed that turf cutting can be allowed to continue. I do not propose to identify these sites until I am in a position to apply the relevant legal protections to them. Compensation will be made available to affected turf cutters from these sites.