Vol. 504 No. 1
19 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position regarding claims by turfcutters of traditional rights on bogs in the west of Ireland; and the conclusions, if any, she has reached in this regard. [11060/99]
I have announced the terms of a compensation package for the cessation of turfcutting in raised bogs proposed for designation as special areas of conservation. Bogs proposed for designation in the Deputy's constituency fall into this category. The main provisions of this package provide for a payment of £1,300 per acre for turbary and fee simple, £1,100 per acre for turbary only and in each case, the amount of compensation will be increased by a single additional payment of £1,000 where the applicant agrees to cease cutting turf before the commencement of the current turf cutting season which has been notionally set at 31st May 1999. A streamlined scheme which should allow for early payment of compensation has been devised and advertised in local newspapers. Under this scheme payment of compensation will be made primarily on the basis of an affadavit sworn by the land-turbary owner or the person claiming traditional rights to turfcutting.
Turfcutting in areas of bog which are outside proposed special areas of conservation may continue as before.
