Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
625. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, under the terms of the turf cutting compensation scheme, an applicant may continue to cut turf until 2017 or must cease immediately on payment by her Department, as it may pertain to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9250/15]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question was received by my Department on 18 February 2015 and has been acknowledged. This application is being assessed and once the assessment is completed my Department will be in contact with the applicant.
The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, which is available to download from my Department’s website, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas. The Review has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas.
The individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question claims to have been cutting turf on a bog in a natural heritage area which is one of the bogs on which turf cutting must cease by 1 January 2017. Turf cutting may continue on this bog until that date, on plots that had been cut in the five year period prior to 14 January 2014.
To ensure that cutting does not intensify prior to 1 January 2017 owners of plots or turbary rights who had cut during the five year period must obtain consent from my Department in advance of cutting turf on this site from 2014 - 2016.
The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended to this natural heritage area since 2014. Individuals, who had been cutting turf on this site during the 5 year period prior to 14 January 2014, may decide to cease turf cutting on the site prior to 1 January 2017 and to enter into the scheme at that time. Once an applicant has entered into the scheme it will no longer be possible for the applicant to cut turf on the site or on another site which is remaining as a raised bog natural heritage area.
