Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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311. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the length of time it is taking to process applications for cessation of turf cutting compensation schemes (details supplied); the number of staff tasked with physically checking the bogs in question; and if this case will be closed before Christmas 2017. [52415/17]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, 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 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.

Arising from an issue that has arisen as regards these criteria, I am advised that an inspection of the plot of bog, in respect of which the application has been received, has been carried out recently by a District Conservation Officer from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. On the basis of the report of that inspection, the application is being processed further.

I understand that an official from my Department will be in contact with the applicant shortly.