Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the refusal of compensation for the turbary rights holders at a bog (details supplied) will be reviewed. [28409/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500. In 2014, the scheme was extended to active turf cutters from 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.

The bog referred to in the Deputy's Question is one of the 36 raised bog natural heritage areas. With respect to these sites, the qualifying criteria of 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 assesses each application received on its individual merits and within the parameters of the qualifying criteria for the scheme.