Denis Naughten
Question:1349 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will furnish a response to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1372/05]
View answerWednesday, 26 January 2005
Questions (1277, 1278)
Denis Naughten
Question:1378 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a top up payment for the purchase of bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1904/05]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1349 and 1378 together.
My Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress in July 2004. A major part of this agreement involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been statutorily proposed for designation. The new rates are deemed to reflect the increase in the value of bogs since the original scheme was launched in March 1999.
Under the cessation of turf cutting scheme, all sales of bogs and turbary rights are entered into voluntarily. All parties entering into an agreement prior to the new rates being announced agreed to the compensation rates applicable at that time. The revised rates will apply to all vendors who agree to sell their bog/turbary to my Department after the date of the current agreement. As an exceptional measure I have agreed that the new rates will be applied retrospectively by means of an additional ex gratia payment in respect of any earlier purchases of raised bogs included in the December 2002 designation proposals.
The new rates include a scaled incentive payment up to a maximum of €6,000, additional to the rate per acre for purchase of bog or turbary. For people whose bogs were statutorily proposed for designation prior to 1999 and who have already sold to the Department, it was agreed that the new additional scaled incentive payment would be applied retrospectively, with the previous €1,270 or £1,000 bonus, where already paid, being deducted. I am advised that the person named is in this pre-1999 category and is due to receive a payment which will issue shortly.