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Turbary Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Questions (412)

Pat Breen

Question:

412. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 27 November 2012, when payment of bog compensation will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2919/13]

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Written answers

As outlined in my reply to Question No 438 of 27 November last, the individuals referred to in the Deputy’s Question sold their interest in land in a raised bog special area of conservation under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department. An incentive bonus of €5,400, available under the scheme, was also paid to the applicants at the time of purchase on the condition that they were selling all plots of bog land in their possession and registered or unregistered turbary rights within a designated area.

The individuals have applied for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. The qualifying criteria for this scheme are that:

- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;

- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;

- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;

- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and

- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.

The application is being assessed within my Department. My officials have been in contact with the applicants recently and will be writing to them in the coming weeks about the status of their application.

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