Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
558. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 22 November 2012, all other factors being equal the commercial value placed on an acre of raised bog not under an SAC designation by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58156/12]
View answerIn the context of the relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs, under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, my Department is prepared to consider the purchase or long-term lease of suitable sites for turf extraction. As outlined in my reply to Question No 135 of 22 November last, it is not possible to place a set figure on the amount my Department would pay, as a variety of factors would need to be taken into consideration. Nor is my Department in a position to place a value on the commercial value of a bog, which in turn is subject to a variety of matters, including for example, whether a bog has planning permission and all necessary licences required for commercial exploitation. My Department is focused on relocating turf cutters for domestic cutting.
