Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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178. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a person (details supplied) who is the owner of lands and turbary rights on a site is entitled to compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22363/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme is open to those affected by the cessation of turf cutting from 1 January 2017 on 36 designated raised bog natural heritage areas, which include 7 sites to be divided, with part to be conserved and part to be de-designated.

The qualifying criteria for the scheme 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.

The scheme is comprised of a provision of €1,500 per annum, index linked, for 15 years or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog plot together with a once-off incentive payment of €500. One compensation provision is provided per household, regardless of the number of bog plots in which an applicant has had a legal interest in the 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.

Application forms for the scheme are available from my Department on request.