Vol. 463 No. 6
146 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the raised bog restoration projects that have been undertaken; the funding allocated for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7151/96]
A project to conserve and restore a representative sample of Irish raised bogs was approved by the European Commission for assistance under the Cohesion Fund. The project involves mainly the acquisition of those bogs, or parts of them, which are not in State ownership, as well as the blocking of surface drains and erection of peat dams to retain rainwater and prevent the bogs from drying out. There is provision also for the planning and design of the works and subsequent monitoring of same.
The amount allocated for this project is IR£2 million covering the period 1994-1998. The following is a list of the bogs included in the programme:
Fisherstown/Ballykenny Bog, County Longford.
Clara Bog, County Offaly.
Mongan Bog, County Offaly.
Raheenmore Bog, County Offaly.
Sharavogue Bog, County Offaly.
Bellanagare Bog, County Roscommon.
Carrowbehy Bog, County Roscommon.
Lisnageeragh Bog, County Galway.
Ballyduff/Clonfinance Bog, County Tipperary.
Firville/Kilcarron Bog, County Tipperary.
Garriskil Bog, County Westmeath.
