Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the various bogs in County Kildare affected by special areas of conservation and national heritage areas, in respect of traditional turf cutting; the extent to which agreement has been reached with all turf cutters at each bog; the number still outstanding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17162/15]
View answer160 applications under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Mouds Bog and 60 applications in respect of Ballynafagh Bog in County Kildare. A total of 320 annual payments, 146 turf deliveries and 24 once-off incentive payments have been made in respect of the applications received from Mouds Bog and 92 annual payments, 18 turf deliveries and 9 once-off incentive payments have been made in respect of the applications received from Ballynafagh Bog. 71 applicants from Mouds Bog and 23 applicants from Ballynafagh Bog have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog.
Discussions have been on-going with a view to the relocation of 12 qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog to Timahoe North, County Kildare, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna. However, turf cutters have not agreed with my Department to relocate to this site.
Lattins Bog, also known as Mouds North Bog, in County Kildare, has been assessed as a suitable relocation site for turf cutters from Mouds Bog. My Department had sought expressions of interest from qualifying applicants under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme with a view to relocation to this site. However, the level of interest received in relocation to this site has been muted.
I am advised that, in agreement with local turf cutter representatives, external experts, engaged by my Department, are in the process of examining whether turf cutting could take place on Mouds Bog where it can be shown that such cutting would not have an adverse effect on the site, in accordance with article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive.
The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which is available to download from my Department’s website at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Publications, provides details on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 raised bog natural heritage areas.
Carbury Bog natural heritage area in County Kildare is one of the natural heritage areas which are to be conserved. In the case of this bog, the review envisages the cessation of turf cutting on the site by 1 January 2017 to preserve its conservation value. Turf cutting may continue on the bog until that date, on plots that have been cut in the five year period prior to the Government decision of 14 January 2014 on the review.
To ensure that cutting does not intensify prior to 1 January 2017, owners of plots or of turbary rights who have cut over the relevant 5-year period must obtain a permit to cut from my Department. Contractors are also obliged to obtain permits.
The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended to land owners and turbary right holders affected by the restrictions on turf cutting in raised bog natural heritage areas. No applications for compensation have been received, to date, in respect of Carbury Bog.
The Natural Heritage Area review also envisages the complete or partial de-designation of 46 existing natural heritage areas where turf cutting may continue into the future. In these de-designation cases, it is not necessary for individuals to seek consent to cut turf. Hodgestown Bog natural heritage area in County Kildare is one of those de-designation cases.
