Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding is available for renovations of a bogland walkway in County Westmeath. [18587/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan 2017-2022, due to be published in the coming period subject to Government approval, will set out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed, conserved and restored. One of the core objectives of the plan is to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits and value of raised bogs and to encourage community involvement to inform future decisions. During the implementation of the programme of restoration measures on designated raised bogs, my Department intends to explore with local stakeholders the opportunities for the provision of recreational amenities within the designated raised bog network.

In addition, there is a limited provision for the funding by my Department in 2017 of small scale conservation and community education and awareness projects in areas affected by the cessation of domestic turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas.

There are also a number of schemes highlighted in the Action Plan for Rural Development and administered by my Department through which funding may be able to be provided for a project such as that referred to in the Deputy’s Question.