Vol. 572 No. 6
369 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will allow the cutting of domestic turf on SAC/NHA designated bogs to continue beyond 2008; and if not, the compensation which will be paid to those affected to allow for the additional costs of heating their homes as well as changing their heating systems. [23965/03]
370 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to turf cutting; the compensation package in place for people who are cutting turf; if there is a derogation being made for people who have used bogs for years; and if so, the situation in this regard. [23966/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together.
Until recently, turf was cut for domestic use by hand using the traditional turf spade, or sleán, but mechanical extraction has now become prevalent. While traditional hand cutting of turf took generations to produce a significant impact, the use of machinery can have a serious impact on the ecology of the remaining bogs, particularly the raised bogs of the midlands. In this context, raised bogs worthy of conservation have been proposed for designation as special areas of conservation, SACs, under the EU habitats directive and as natural heritage areas, NHAs, under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.
To balance social and economic needs with the requirements of habitat conservation, a ten year derogation for domestic turf cutters in raised bogs in SACs, except in particularly sensitive locations, was introduced in 1999 to allow those with turbary rights some time to make new arrangements. A survey is currently being carried out on designated raised bogs, both SAC and NHA, which will identify the most sensitive areas of these bogs, where cutting cannot be allowed to continue. In the less sensitive areas of the NHA bogs, I expect to be in a position to permit domestic cutting to continue for a number of years. I will announce arrangements in this regard following completion of the current survey, which is due for completion by the end of this year.
Compensation is available for the cessation of turf cutting in SACs and NHAs. My Department will purchase areas of raised bog at the rate of €4,080 per hectare or turbary rights at the rate of €3,451 per hectare.
In the case of blanket bog SACs, it has generally been possible either to exclude areas of active turf cutting from the SACs, or to allow cutting to continue from existing turf banks. My Department will purchase areas of blanket bog SAC which have been identified as particularly sensitive and where turf cutting cannot be allowed to continue at the rate of €628 per hectare.
Any holder of turbary rights who is dissatisfied with the level of compensation on offer for either raised or blanket bogs has the right to arbitration as provided for in the legislation concerning SACs and NHAs.
