Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider making payments under the turf cutting compensation scheme early in 2021, given increases in energy costs and to assist families in meeting their heating costs during the winter period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3407/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas and who fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. It 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 payment of €500 on the signing of a legal agreement under the scheme.

Annual payments under the scheme for qualifying applicants are generally made from March in each year in order to facilitate the provision of fuel for the following winter period. For example, annual payments for the year 2020 were issued from March 2020 and continued throughout the year for the winter period 2020-2021.