Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
323. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the details of any compensation fund available to land owners in 2014 who have had land designated under an SAC, SPA or NHA; the amount of compensation paid in tabular form in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/14]
View answerUnder the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, compensation is payable from my Department where a person has been refused consent by me for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she has been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal. Relevant compensation schemes include the following:
- A comprehensive compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog habitat nominated for designation as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. This scheme provides for annual payments of €1,500, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation to a non-designated bog to continue turf cutting, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500, upon completion of a legal agreement with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
- The Review of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) provides for the effective cessation of turf cutting on 36 natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017, in order to preserve their conservation value. Any turf-cutter required to cease turf cutting on one of these natural heritage areas is being offered compensatory measures similar to those available to turf-cutters from raised bog special areas of conservation. Such compensation will be available to qualifying persons with effect from 2014.
- A voluntary bog purchase scheme. Under this scheme, individuals with a legal interest in special areas of conservation or natural heritage areas could apply to sell their interest in these sites to my Department at set rates. The voluntary bog purchase scheme is closed to new applicants.
- A small-scale voluntary farm plan scheme, which supports farmers to take actions in order to benefit particular habitats and species for which special areas of conservation and special protection areas have been designated. Due to budgetary constraints, the scheme has been curtailed but existing contracts are being honoured.
While my Department has the lead role in relation to the implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, significant funding is also provided through the rural development programme, operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which provides for a range of supports for farmers, including payments in respect of sites nominated for designation under the Directives.
The amount of compensation paid under the various schemes operated by my own Department from 2010 to 2013 is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Farm Plan Scheme |
Commercial Turf Cutting |
Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme |
Interim Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme |
Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme |
|
2010 |
€4,119,349 |
€886,233 |
€865,110 |
€165,000 |
Nil |
|
2011 |
€5,262,587 |
€3,450,038 |
€405,766 |
€6,000 |
€51,000 |
|
2012 |
€4,507,248 |
€150,000 |
€422,701 |
Nil |
€3,175,500 |
|
2013 |
€3,750,420 |
Nil |
€760,870 |
Nil |
€3,093,698 |
