Michael Healy-Rae
Question:284. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of bog SACs which have now been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42539/19]
View answerWednesday, 16 October 2019
Questions (284)
Written answers
Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation within the framework of the EU Habitats Directive. This has included the establishment of the Peatlands Council, intensive and on-going engagement with turf cutting interests, the farming community, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission, as well as the establishment of a long-term compensation scheme for affected turf cutters. The aim is to address the needs of turf cutters as part of an overall raised bog designated sites network solution, as set out in the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022. This involves a balance of protecting traditional rights, providing compensation where these rights are curtailed, and seeking to facilitate feasible alternatives, where possible, while working to ensure that Ireland meets its legal obligations.
In the region of 2,000 applicants have qualified for payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme from 48 of the 53 raised bog special area of conservation sites. There are particular reasons as to there being no qualifying applicants under the scheme for the remaining 5 sites, for example, the lack of turf cutting on these sites during the qualifying period.
For 11 raised bog special areas of conservation, relocation sites within non-designated bogs have been identified and developed. Some of these relocation sites have been operational since 2013/14 with domestic turf cutting scheduled to begin in the 2020 season in the most recently developed sites. Relocation sites for a further 8 special areas of conservation have been identified by the Department and are at various stages of development. The Department is still investigating suitable relocation sites for 7 raised bog special areas of conservation.
For a number of the special area of conservation sites, the non-designated site identified may not be suitable or may not have the capacity to cater for the number of turf cutters who may wish to relocate there. In such cases and within the framework of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022, the Department, in consultation with turf cutter representatives, is considering the available options in terms of relocation and the provisions of the Habitats Directive to provide for turf cutting with certain areas of the raised bog special areas of conservation. 14 sites are under consideration for the possible application of article 6 of the Directive.