Vol. 532 No. 1
273 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 961 of 30 January 2001, she will outline the location and approximate acreage of bog where, following scientific assessment, domestic turf cutting was allowed to continue; the grounds for such an assessment;and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6639/01]
While indefinite continuation of turf cutting and associated drainage systems is incompatible with the protection of the nature conservation value of raised bogs, I am satisfied that the arrangements now in place will ensure that significant damage will not be caused to the bogs. These arrangements provide that, in general, people cutting for domestic purposes only can continue cutting up to the 2008 cutting season. Where turf cutters have made known their intention to continue, for domestic purposes only, officials of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, have assessed the possible damage to the bogs and have allowed the cutting to continue in almost all cases. No figures are available on the acreage concerned, but there are such areas in all bogs, where people wish to continue cutting for domestic purposes.
