Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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251. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an application by a person (details supplied) to cut turf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18371/18]

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. With respect to 36 raised bog natural heritage area sites, 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 these sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;

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

- The turf resource on the site has not been 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 the land folio, referred to in the Deputy's Question, is closed and the details of the land contained within the folio have been transferred to a different folio.

My Department has requested information from the applicant, in relation to the location of his bog plot within the natural heritage area. Once this information is received, my Department will be in a position to further process the application.