Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2015
285. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of plot owners who were paid money for turf plots in Barroughter bog (details supplied) in County Galway under schemes other than the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme; the amounts paid to each recipient in such instances categorised by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9715/15]
View answerCompensation has been paid under a number of schemes administered by my Department in respect of raised bog habitat nominated for designation as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive, including Barroughter Bog.
In 1999, a voluntary bog purchase scheme was introduced under which domestic turf cutters could sell their plots at agreed rates. These rates were subsequently increased in 2004, following agreement with the farming organisations under the Partnership talks.
In May 2010, the then Government announced the closure of the voluntary bog purchase scheme to new applicants. However, my Department is continuing to process applications, in respect of special areas of conservation, received before this date.
A total of €441,223 was paid to 25 applicants from Barroughter Bog under this scheme between 2000 and 2014.
Details of the voluntary bog purchase scheme cases from Barroughter Bog by year are set out in the table below.
In May 2010, an interim compensation payment scheme was established. This provided interim funding to those who had been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999. 13 applicants from Barroughter Bog each received a payment of €1,000 in respect of 2010 during that year under this scheme. One further applicant from Barroughter Bog received a payment of €1,000 in 2011 under this scheme in respect of 2010.
This scheme has been replaced by the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme established in 2011.
Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme
|
Applicant |
Total Paid |
Year |
Total Paid per year |
|
CASE 1 |
€4,158 |
2000 |
€11,492 |
|
CASE 2 |
€7,334 |
2000 |
|
|
CASE 3 |
€131,947 |
2005 |
€131,947 |
|
CASE 1* |
€7,355 |
2006 |
€16,687 |
|
CASE 2* |
€9,332 |
2006 |
|
|
CASE 4 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
€117,996 |
|
CASE 5 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 6 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 7 |
€14,815 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 8 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 9 |
€37,038 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 10 |
€17,058 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 11 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 12 |
€16,803 |
2008 |
€84,310 |
|
CASE 13 |
€13,037 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 14 |
€18,049 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 15 |
€15,418 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 16 |
€11,580 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 17 |
€9,423 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 18 |
€1,267 |
2009 |
€23,095 |
|
CASE 19 |
€12,536 |
2009 |
|
|
CASE 20 |
€9,292 |
2009 |
|
|
CASE 21 |
€9,817 |
2010 |
€37,862 |
|
CASE 22 |
€12,377 |
2010 |
|
|
CASE 23 |
€15,668 |
2010 |
|
|
CASE 24 |
€9,817 |
2011 |
€9,817 |
|
CASE 25 |
€8,017 |
2014 |
€8,017 |
*Both Case 1 and 2 had been paid at the initial purchase rates under this scheme. Following discussions with the farming organisations in 2004 which led to higher purchase rates being introduced, it was agreed that applicants such as these would receive a top-up payment to bring their payments into line with payments being made at the new purchase rates.
