Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
323. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which final agreement has been reached with traditional turf cutters displaced by EU or national conservation orders throughout the country; the extent to which he expects to be in the position to resolve issues in relation to the outstanding locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44794/13]
View answer325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has reached full and final agreement with traditional turf cutters in County Kildare who have been displaced by national or EU-inspired SACs; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44796/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 325 together.
2,816 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department. 793 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. 1,790 payments have been made in respect of Year 1 of 15, 1,566 payments have been made in respect of Year 2 of 15 and 509 payments have been made in respect of Year 3 of 15. 322 deliveries of turf have also been made.
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. The group from Clara Bog commenced turf cutting at the relocation site in Killeranny, County Offaly, in June 2012, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have now been accommodated. Turf cutting for the 2013 season took place on this site in April last. My Department envisages that qualifying turf cutters from the group from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog will be able to commence turf cutting in one of the relocation sites from the 2014 turf cutting season.
Progress has been made with a view to the relocation of 7 qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog special area of conservation in County Kildare to Timahoe North, County Kildare, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna. My Department envisages that qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog will be able to commence cutting in the relocation site during the 2014 turf cutting season, provided that final agreement is reached with them. Progress has also been made with a view to the relocation of a small group of 3 qualifying turf cutters from Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough special area of conservation in County Roscommon to Togher, County Roscommon, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna. My Department envisages that this group of qualifying turf cutters will be able to commence cutting in the relocation site during the 2014 turf cutting season, provided that final agreement is reached with them.
I am advised that of the remaining 49 raised bog special areas of conservation, 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 due, for example, to the small number that had been cutting turf on these sites during the relevant five year period and would qualify for the relocation option available under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.
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 that can be accommodated on the site, the cost and feasibility of land purchase or lease, and possible planning and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements. In that regard, Bord na Móna has assessed in the region of 70 potential relocation sites at the request of my Department. Bord na Móna has also commenced negotiations with landowners in relation to the purchase or long-term lease of sites.
There are 2 raised bog special areas of conservation in County Kildare affected by the cessation of turf cutting - Ballynafagh Bog and Mouds Bog. 58 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Ballynafagh Bog and 106 applications have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Mouds Bog. 28 and 40 of these groups of applicants, respectively, have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. 61 payments and 12 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received from Ballynafagh Bog and 105 payments and 65 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received from Mouds Bog.
Lattins Bog, also known as Mouds North Bog, in County Kildare has been identified as a potential relocation site for turf cutters from Mouds Bog. Bord na Móna had produced a preliminary suitability assessment report and stratigraphy assessment report for the relocation site. It has now undertaken a full suitability assessment for the site and my Department has provided a copy of the assessment report to the Secretary of the Committee of the Kildare Turf Cutters Association.
There are also 2 natural heritage area raised bogs in County Kildare designated under national law in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts - Carbury Bog and Hodgestown Bog. In May 2010, the previous Government decided that turf cutting should come to an end on all raised bog natural heritage areas at the end of 2013. However, as set out in the Programme for Government, the current Government undertook to review the situation with regard to raised bog natural heritage areas.
This review is currently underway and the future of turf cutting on such sites is being considered as part of that review. It is my intention that the review will provide clarity for turf cutters and landowners in advance of the 2014 turf cutting season and my Department will be contacting individual landowners and turf cutters on these sites in due course.
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 while awaiting relocation to non-designated bogs.
Following the Dáil motion of 7 March 2012, which called on the Government to “engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive, and to prepare and submit a National Raised Bog Restoration Plan to the Commission as a matter of urgency”, I secured the agreement of the European Commissioner for the Environment for the development of a National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, in keeping with the recommendations of Mr. Justice Quirke. The approach of the national plan may unlock some flexibility, within the terms of the EU Habitats Directive, in regard to the most difficult of sites, where relocation options are limited.
To progress the preparation of the plan, my Department engaged a team of specialists (RPS) to provide the scientific basis for raised bog conservation in Ireland. RPS has been working with my Department and the Peatlands Council to prepare a National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, a draft of which I hope to make available for consultation before the end of the year. Further information on the work of RPS can be found at www.raisedbogrestoration.ie.
The clear majority of domestic turf-cutters on the raised bog special areas of conservation are now engaging with my Department in finding acceptable solutions within the law. The door is still open for others to engage in this process with me, my Department and with other stakeholders to address the needs of turf cutters and other interested parties. Such engagement would, I am sure, help to address the needs of turf cutters more speedily.
