Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004
290 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if bog owners in the Ballinasloe, County Galway area, who recently had their properties designated as special areas of conservation will be allowed to cut their domestic supply of turf in 2004; and if he will clarify the matter as the turf season is fast approaching. [4252/04]
View answerIt has been the policy of my Department to allow turf cutting for domestic purposes to continue for the time being, including in 2004, in bogs which have been designated for conservation in the Ballinasloe area and in other parts of the country. However, the Department does not permit cutting by sausage machine in these bogs. Where it becomes necessary in a small number of particularly sensitive areas to further restrict domestic turf cutting, this will be notified to the parties concerned by the local conservation ranger.
