Denis Naughten
Question:959 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her Department has reviewed its position on turf cutting on designated bogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1640/01]
Written Answers. - Turf Cutting.
Denis Naughten
Question:960 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the cost and numbers of staff from her Department who will be involved in policing the prohibition of turf cutting on designated bogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1641/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 959 and 960 together.
There has been no change in my Department's position on turf cutting on designated bogs. Please see attached copies of press releases that outline the options available to turf cutters This has been the position since early 1999.
The European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997, under which the restrictions on turf cutting in certain areas arise, and the Wildlife Act, 1976, are implemented principally by 116 national parks and wildlife field staff attached to Dúchas – the heritage services division of my Department – as part of their overall responsibilities. The payroll cost of these staff is estimated at £2.6 million per annum. It is not possible to estimate how much of this overall cost is attributable to the policing of the prohibition of turf-cutting on designated bogs.
Denis Naughten
Question:961 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the research carried out by her Department to assess the damage or potential damage caused by domestic turf cutting on designated bogs in west Roscommon and County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1642/01]
A research programme, involving a wide range of scientific disciplines, was carried out by Dúchas, the heritage services division of my Department, on designated bogs in County Offaly. This programme, which began in 1989, was undertaken in association with the Geological Survey of Ireland, Irish and Dutch universities and the Netherlands statutory conservation body, Staatsbosbeheer. The work carried out demonstrated that all types of turf cutting and their associated drainage systems are incompatible with the protection of the nature conservation value of these bogs. It has been established that turf cutting not only damages the conservation value of the immediate area of bog used but also can cause widespread adverse impacts up to 500 meters away from the site of the turf cutting It is for this reason that Dúchas wishes to phase out turf cutting on areas of bog that are required to be protected under the EU habitats directive.
Based on the information gathered in the aforementioned research programme, surveyors have carried out investigations of selected bogs throughout the country, including Roscommon and Galway. These investigations confirmed that the research results from the County Offaly bogs were applicable to bogs of scientific interest elsewhere in the country. As a result of such surveys a selection of bogs has been proposed for SAC designation under the habitats directive. Financial incentives (compensation) have been put in place to encourage the cessation of turf cutting in these most sensitive areas with other options being to transfer turf cutting to adjacent non designated sites – where such sites can be found – or, in certain circumstances, where the scientific assessment is favourable, to continue domestic cutting for a limited period of time.