Peat extraction for domestic purposes in candidate special areas of conservation, cSACs, does not generally result in significant damage to the conservation value of sites in the short term. In this context, arrangements announced in 1999 provided that domestic turf cutting in cSACs could be allowed to continue for up to ten years from date of notification of proposed designation, in order to give owners time to make new arrangements for alternative sources of supply, save in exceptionally sensitive parts of the bogs which would be identified by my Department. Similar arrangements now apply to additional bogs proposed for designation more recently, as referred to in the question.
The following rates of compensation are payable for raised bogs under the cessation of turf cutting scheme on cSACs. These rates are currently being reviewed by my Department. The rates are: €1,650.66 per acre for freehold title — a contribution will be paid towards legal costs in this instance; €1,396.71 per acre for turbary rights — no contribution payable towards legal costs is payable in this instance; and €253.95 per acre for fee simple title — a contribution will be paid towards legal costs in this instance.
Most damage to cSACs for peat extraction is caused by commercial and industrial operations. In order to maintain the conservation value of these sites, such damaging operations have stopped or are being phased out over as short a period as possible. Commercial operators must consult my Department and cutting is only permitted to continue in the short term in exceptional circumstances. Each case is assessed on an individual basis and, if it is found that cutting must cease in order to protect the cSAC, compensation will be paid for proven actual loss.
