Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
935. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has not yet been made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23715/15]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy's Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of year 1 of 15 (2011) and a payment of €1,500 in respect of year 2 of 15 (2012) have been made to this applicant.
The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
I am advised that there are a number of related applications for compensation for the bog plot on which the applicant claims to have been cutting turf. Therefore, further evidence of cutting on this plot has been requested from the applicants. Once this evidence is received, my Department will be in a position to process all of these applications.
