Peter Burke
Question:376. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an application by a person (details supplied). [47983/19]
View answerWednesday, 20 November 2019
Questions (376)
Written answers
An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. With respect to 36 raised bog natural heritage area sites, the qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf)) in one of these sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the five year period up to 14 January 2014;
- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
I have been informed that a decision was taken by my Department that the applicant does not fulfil all of the qualifying criteria of the scheme. He did not have a legal interest in the plot in question on 25 May 2010 and turf cutting by the applicant had not taken place on the plot during the five year period up to 14 January 2014.
The applicant was informed of this decision on 27 May 2019 and advised that he could request a Departmental review of this decision.
The applicant has requested this review. As part of the review process, my Department has requested further information from the applicant.
If the original decision is upheld by the Departmental review, the applicant will have the opportunity to appeal against the decision to the Peatlands Council.