Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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466. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an application for compensation with regard to cessation of turf cutting by a person (details supplied) will be processed. [18119/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question.

The qualifying criteria for the scheme for raised bog natural heritage areas are that:

- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf) in one of the 36 raised bog natural heritage areas and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on 25 May 2010;

- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the five year period up to 14 January 2014;

- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted; and

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

My Department is examining the application in view of the qualifying criteria for the scheme. I am advised that officials from my Department have been in contact with the applicant regarding his legal interest in the bog plot and have requested further information in relation to same.

Once the relevant information is supplied, my Department will be in a position to process the application further.