Brian Stanley
Question:345. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made in finding a relocation option for turf cutters on Coolrain bog, County Laois. [20362/13]
View answerTuesday, 30 April 2013
Questions (345, 346, 347)
Brian Stanley
Question:346. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the option of co-location of turf cutters and the special areas of conservation has been considered on Coolrain bog, County Laois. [20363/13]
View answerBrian Stanley
Question:347. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made with putting in place the plan for the 53 special areas of conservation; and the bogs for which it is proving difficult to find a solution. [20364/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 to 347, inclusive, together.
In April 2012, I secured the agreement of Commissioner Potocnik to the development of a National Raised Bog Special Area of Conservation Management Plan. This was in keeping with the recommendations of Justice Quirke following the Peatlands Forum and with the motion agreed unanimously by Dáil Éireann on 7 March.
My Department has now engaged a team of specialists who are undertaking the necessary scientific work to underpin the National Plan and to inform the future restoration and management of each of the SACs. This work is being overseen by an independent steering group with input from the Peatlands Council. Draft proposals for each of the sites will be discussed with affected parties as part of this process.
The detailed exploration of relocation sites is a key element in progressing the National Plan. In collaboration with the Peatlands Council, and with the assistance of Bord na Móna, my Department is actively engaging with turf cutting communities to consider how relocation can be progressed.
The aim of my Department is to facilitate, as far as possible, those qualifying cutters who wish to continue to cut turf by putting in place relocation sites for as many cutters as possible in the shortest possible time. Given the complexities of the process it can take time to resolve all issues to finality even as new sites come on stream. The provision of financial payments or deliveries of turf is available to those awaiting relocation. My officials will continue to work with local groups on these issues within the principles of the relocation scheme.
Arrangements for the relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs have been made for groups from Clara Bog in County Offaly and from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog in County Galway.
My Department also envisages that qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog will be able to commence cutting in the relocation site during this turf cutting season provided that final agreement is reached with relevant cutters.
Of the remaining 49 raised bog SACs, potential relocation sites have been identified for a further 32 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.
Bord na Móna undertook a preliminary assessment of a potential relocation site for turf cutters on Coolrain Bog Special Area of Conservation on behalf of my Department. On the basis of this assessment, Bord na Móna has undertaken a stratigraphy assessment of this site in order to get a better indication of the quality and quantity of peat there. The stratigraphy report has recently been received by my Department. Officials from my Department will contact turf cutter representatives from Coolrain Bog shortly with a view to discussing the report and other relevant issues.
A payment of €1,500, index-linked, or a supply of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum is available under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to applicants from Coolrain Bog while awaiting relocation to a non-designated bog.
The continuation of cutting on parts of any raised bog SAC, such as Coolrain, may only be considered within the strict parameters of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, which prescribe the circumstances under which potentially damaging activities can be consented to. In the context of the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, it may be possible to bring some flexibility, within the terms of the Habitats Directive, that could allow limited cutting within a small number of sites, if there are no alternatives.
I am determined that, in collaboration with the Peatlands Council and local turf-cutting communities, substantial progress will be made on the plan over the coming months. My Department has stepped up contact with turf-cutting groups to seek long-term solutions to the issues for their particular bogs, in compliance with EU and national law. I hope that the Plan can be completed by November, in time to submit an application to the European Commission under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, if required, prior to the 2014 cutting season.
However, the engagement and agreement of turf-cutting communities to its proposed approaches will be essential to meeting this timeline, and to unlocking the potential flexibility it offers.