Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014
159. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason compensation was not provided to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7433/14]
View answerThe qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, administered by my Department, 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.
I am advised that the majority of the land in the raised bog special area of conservation referred to in the Deputy’s Question is registered in the ownership of State authorities. An application for compensation under the scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to. However, the applicant has not, to date, been in a position to show evidence of a legal interest in the bog plot.
My Department is considering the legal issues raised in this and similar cases and the applicant has been advised that his application is still under consideration. My Department will be writing further to the applicant regarding same as soon as possible.
