Of the 2,651 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme received and acknowledged by my Department, 781 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. A total of 2,161 payments and 195 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received.
Arrangements for the relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs have been made as regards a group from Clara Bog special area of conservation in County Offaly and a group from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog special areas of conservation in County Galway. These arrangements involve the groups moving to nearby bogs, with the group from Clara Bog having commenced turf cutting at the relocation site in Killeranny, County Offaly, in June last, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have now been accommodated. Agreement has been reached between my Department and the group of turf cutters from Carrownagappul and Curraghlehanagh Bogs that necessary infrastructure development works will be carried out this year in the relocation site in preparation for turf cutting. The commencement of cutting depends on the ground settling following these works and I understand that cutting will commence here in 2014.
Progress has also been made with a view to the relocation in a similar manner of qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog special area of conservation in County Kildare. My Department envisages that qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog will be able to commence turf cutting in a relocation site during the forthcoming turf cutting season.
In total, 70 applicants from Carrownagappul Bog, 19 applicants from Curraghlehanagh Bog and 28 applicants from Ballynafagh Bog have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs.
I am advised that of the remaining 49 raised bog special areas of conservation, potential relocation sites had been identified for a further 31 bogs and work is ongoing on identifying and investigating sites. Relocation is unlikely to be required, or is likely to be small-scale, for another 16 raised bog special areas of conservation due, for example, to the small number of turf cutters that have been active on these sites.
In addition, my Department had recently written to applicants from Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough special area of conservation in County Roscommon, who had expressed an interest in relocation, in order to ascertain interest in relocation to a particular site from the 2013 turf cutting season. I understand that this site would not suit the majority of those who wish to relocate from Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough due to the distance of the potential relocation site from their homes. However, a small number of applicants have indicated to my Department an interest in relocation to this site.
The Deputy will appreciate that relocation is a very complex process, in terms of investigating suitable sites for turf quality and quantity, the infrastructure/drainage works required, establishing the number who can be accommodated on the site, the cost and feasibility of land purchase or lease, and possible planning and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements. Accordingly, it will only be possible to bring this process to a conclusion over time in respect of all the relocation sites. It is not possible to indicate, therefore, when exactly additional turf cutters can be accommodated at any of these sites over and above the specific cases already mentioned.
A payment of €1,500 or a supply of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum is available under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to applicants while awaiting relocation to non-designated bogs. An additional once-off payment of €500 will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
