Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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718. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide reassurance to owners of private turf banks and those with turbary rights that they will be permitted to continue to cut turf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15545/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Ireland's approach is to recognise the traditional right to cut turf for domestic purposes, while balancing this with our obligations under the Habitats Directive. This balanced approach is based on a respect for and understanding of that tradition and has been carefully nurtured to build trust and work with stakeholders to save the natural heritage of Ireland's bogs. 

In that context, the National Peatlands Strategy recognises that domestic turf cutters have a traditional right to cut turf for their own use and that this right is balanced with the conservation objectives for designated bogs and the legal obligations on the State.