Vol. 504 No. 7
295 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will publish phase II and phase III of the Wild Life Acts designated areas; if areas not in the special area of conservation designation will be included under phase II or III; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12850/99]
I am assuming the Deputy is referring to the phased designation of special areas of conservation (SACs).
In 1997 Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, published a list of over 200 proposed SACs which, in general, contain priority habitats listed in the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). I anticipate that more than 100 additional proposed SACs, largely containing non-priority habitat types, will be published in June and that a third list containing marine habitats will be published in late 1999 or early 2000.
296 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason the liaison committees promised to the Special Area Conservation Action Group Alliance were not set up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12851/99]
The purpose of liaison committees was to improve the flow of information between my Department and land holders in proposed SACs. The staff of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, have so far arranged well over 100 meetings in all parts of the country, and the process is ongoing. To date 40 committees have been established by landowners. In 35 cases, it appears that there is a requirement to have a further meeting in order to establish a committee and in a further 33 locations there has been no success yet in setting up a committee. My officials will continue to encourage the formation of committees in as many proposed SACs as possible.
I strongly recommend that land holders participate in liaison committees as the purpose in setting them up was to fill the information gap which land holders had complained about in the ongoing and developing situation in relation to SACs. The liaison committees are intended to represent individuals, rather than organisations such as the one referred to by the Deputy. However the organisation referred to can involve itself in the process by encouraging the people it represents to attend meetings and elect committees. I am satisfied that it is in the best interests of all affected landowners to do so.
297 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will withdraw her demand for bog owners who want to cut turf for domestic purposes to get a licence from her Department in the raised bogs at Monakeebea and Clonmoylan in south east Galway and other raised bogs in view of the fact that demand is causing deep concern and a hindrance to the freedom of the owners to use their property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12852/99]
298 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if her Department or the Department of Agriculture and Food will penalise any farmer participating in the REP scheme who cuts turf in his bog property without a licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12853/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
I am conscious of the social and economic impact that immediate cessation of turf cutting in raised bogs proposed for designation as special areas of conservation (SACs) would have on small communities and I have decided to make exceptional arrangements in the case of cutters for domestic use. Accordingly, such cutters will be given a period of up to ten years to make new arrangements.
Alternatively, they may choose to cease cutting and to avail this year of the terms of the compensation package announced by me for the cessation of turf cutting in raised bogs SACs. 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 31 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 affidavit sworn by the land/turbary owner or the person claiming traditional rights to turf cutting.
Turf cutting in areas of bog which are outside proposed special areas of conservation may continue as before.
The REP scheme is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture and Food. My Department is involved in agreeing farming prescriptions for conservation of particular habitats under supplementary measure A of the revised REP scheme. Prescriptions for raised bogs will be agreed following consultation with farming interests.
