Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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780. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of a site (details supplied) under the turf cutting compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1079/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The site referred to in the Deputy’s Question is a candidate raised bog special area of conservation nominated for designation in 2002. The cessation of turf cutting on this site came into effect on 1 January 2012.

A long-term compensation scheme was introduced in 2011 to compensate active turf cutters for their loss arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. 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.

Applicants may qualify for compensation under this scheme provided they fulfil the qualifying criteria.

The qualifying criteria for the scheme as it relates to special areas of conservation are that:

-The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;

-The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;

-The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;

-The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and

-No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.

My Department has acknowledged 35 applications under the scheme in respect of this bog. A total of 136 individual payments at a cost of €206,103 and 21 once-off incentive payments at a cost of €10,500 have been made in respect of applications received. There are no qualifying applicants from this site who have continued to express an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog.