Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when payments under the turf cutting compensation scheme will be made for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35018/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 53 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 legal agreement payment of €500. In 2014, the scheme was extended to active turf cutters from 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.

Payments under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for 2020 began in the second quarter of the year and are ongoing. To date, 2,458 annual payments for 2020 have been issued under the scheme. It is anticipated that the remainder of these payments will be made in the coming weeks.