Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2014
116. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that mapping of new NHA designation has not been finalised, if the land of a person (details supplied) will be omitted from the list as it is agricultural land and not bog land. [11169/14]
View answerI understand that the land belonging to the person referred to in the Deputy's Question is within or adjacent to the existing Ballynagrenia and Ballinderry raised bog Natural Heritage Area (NHA). The Deputy will be aware that the Review of Ireland’s Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which was published recently, has proposed a reconfiguration of the network of raised bog NHAs. The site in question is one of 7, listed in the Review, which will be divided with a view to phasing out turf-cutting and conserving one part and de-designating the other part of the site. In this regard, a letter has issued in the last few days from my Department to landowners in the site, including to the person referred to, which outlines the outcome of the Review and the implications for this site. In addition, a map which shows the part of the site which is to be retained as NHA and conserved, and the part proposed for de-designation was enclosed with that letter.
