Vol. 501 No. 6
97 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will give details of her proposals to deal with traditional turf cutters' rights in the north Galway and west Roscommon areas; the specifics of the licence mechanism to operate; if she will extend the ten year requirement to 20 years in the case of hand cutting of turf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6916/99]
As the Deputy is aware, following an extensive consultation process, I recently announced cessation arrangements, including compensation, for turf cutting in raised bog special areas of conservation. This package will be applied countrywide and I urge affected landowners or cutters from the north Galway and west Roscommon areas who have not yet done so, to contact local officials of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, who will be pleased to discuss matters with them.
It is not proposed to vary at this time any of the terms on offer and which were the product of long and painstaking consultations. I am arranging to forward for the Deputy's information a copy of my recent press release on this subject.
