Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Questions (275)

Denis Naughten

Question:

275. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of turf cutters displaced on each designated bog in which turf cutting has ceased in tabular form; the number who took compensation; the number who sought relocation; the number awaiting relocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50560/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas 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 cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas and who fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. It is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a legal agreement payment of €500.

2,569 applicants are regularly receiving annual payments under the scheme. There are other affected turf cutters, who may qualify under the scheme, who have not yet applied, and it remains open for these turf cutters to apply.

While applicants are waiting for relocation sites to be investigated, prepared and developed, they may, on an interim basis, opt for the annual payment of €1,500 (index-linked) or opt to receive an annual supply of up to 15 tonnes of cut turf delivered to their homes. To date, 1,150 deliveries of turf have been made to applicants.

Of the 2,569 applicants regularly receiving annual payments under the scheme, 263 have applied for relocation to a non-designated bog

Relocation of turf cutters is a complex process. Notwithstanding this, progress in relocation has been achieved in a number of cases and 72 turf cutters from 11 raised bog designated sites have been relocated to non-designated bogs. A further 4 relocation sites in counties Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath, which will accommodate up to 54 turf cutters, have been developed by my Department and are scheduled to be operational from 2020. Relocation sites for a further 6 special areas of conservation have been identified by the Department and are at various stages of development. These could accommodate up to approximately 50 turf cutters. The Department is still investigating suitable relocation sites for a further 7 raised bog special areas of conservation.

For certain designated sites, where a suitable relocation site has not been identified or where the identified relocation site cannot accommodate all applicants who have opted for relocation, the 15 year compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme (less any annual payments or the value of turf deliveries received) has been made available to them in the form of a lump sum to enable them to source and purchase bog plots themselves. 61 turf cutters have availed of this option from 8 special areas of conservation and 3 natural heritage areas.

For a number of the protected 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 raised bog special areas of conservation. 14 sites are under consideration for the possible application of article 6 of the Directive.

Details on the number of applicants regularly receiving annual payments under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme and the number who have applied for relocation are set out in the following table.

Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme

Site Code	Site Name	County of Bog	Number of applicants regularly receiving annual payments	Number of applicants regularly receiving annual payments who have applied for relocation
000006	Killyconny Bog (Cloghbally) cSAC	Roscommon
000221	Moorfield Bog/Farm Cottage NHA	Galway	13	0
000229	Ballygar Bog NHA	Galway
000231	Barroughter Bog cSAC	Galway	94	25
000235	Bracklagh Bog NHA	Galway
000248	Cloonmoylan Bog cSAC	Galway	101	0
000280	Castle Ffrench West Bog NHA	Galway
000281	Keeloges Bog NHA	Galway	20	0
000285	Kilsallagh Bog cSAC	Galway	61	7
000296	Lisnageeragh Bog and Ballinstack Turlough cSAC	Galway	15	2
000297	Lough Corrib cSAC	Galway	111	0
000301	Lough Lurgeen Bog/Glenamaddy Turlough cSAC	Galway	23	4
000307	Lough Tee Bog NHA	Galway
000321	Raford River Bog NHA	Galway	25	1
000326	Shankill West Bog cSAC	Galway
000333	Anna More Bog NHA	Kerry	12	0
000391	Ballynafagh Bog cSAC	Kildare	21	6
000422	Aghnamona Bog NHA	Leitrim
000440	Lough Ree cSAC	Roscommon	336	63
000497	Flughany Bog cSAC	Mayo/Sligo	11	0
000565	Clonydonnin Bog NHA	Westmeath	30	0
000566	All Saints Bog and Esker cSAC	Offaly
000572	Clara Bog cSAC	Offaly	45	2
000580	Mongan Bog cSAC	Offaly
000581	Moyclare Bog cSAC	Offaly	15	0
000585	Sharavogue Bog cSAC	Offaly
000592	Bellanagare Bog cSAC	Roscommon	182	10
000595	Callow Bog cSAC	Roscommon	92	5
000597	Carrowbehy/Caher Bog cSAC	Roscommon
000600	Cloonchambers Bog cSAC	Roscommon	21	1
000604	Derrinea Bog cSAC	Roscommon
000614	Cloonshanville Bog cSAC	Roscommon
000640	Arragh More Bog NHA	Tipperary	27	0
000641	Ballyduff/Clonfinane Bog cSAC	Tipperary
000642	Ballymacegan Bog NHA	Tipperary
000647	Kilcarren-Firville Bog cSAC	Tipperary
000674	Ballynagrenia and Ballinderry Bog NHA	Westmeath	63	2
000677	Cloncrow Bog (New Forest) NHA	Westmeath
000684	Lough Derravaragh NHA	Westmeath	12	0
000694	Wooddown Bog NHA	Westmeath	18	0
000937	Scohaboy Bog NHA	Tipperary	50	3
000993	Ayle Lower Bog NHA	Clare
001227	Aughrim Bog NHA	Galway	13	0
001242	Carrownagappul Bog cSAC	Galway	59	3
001244	Castle Ffrench East Bog NHA	Galway
001254	Derrinlough Bog NHA	Galway	17	1
001405	Cashel Bog (Leitrim) NHA	Leitrim	11	0
001450	Mount Jessop Bog NHA	Longford
001580	Girley Bog NHA	Meath	16	0
001623	Carrickynaghtan Bog NHA	Roscommon	38	0
001812	Lough Garr NHA	Westmeath
001818	Lough Forbes Complex cSAC	Longford
002033	Daingean Bog NHA	Offaly	13	0
002110	Corliskea/Trien/Cloonfelliv Bog cSAC	Galway/Roscommon	80	7
002298	River Moy cSAC	Mayo/Ros/Sligo	21	0
002331	Mouds Bog cSAC	Kildare	139	62
002332	Coolrain Bog cSAC	Laois	55	13
002333	Knockacoller Bog cSAC	Laois	18	5
002336	Carn Park Bog cSAC	Westmeath	45	2
002337	Crosswood Bog cSAC	Westmeath	59	2
002338	Drumalough Bog cSAC	Roscommon	18	1
002339	Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough cSAC	Roscommon	60	1
002340	Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs cSAC	Westmeath	69	2
002341	Ardagullion Bog cSAC	Longford	23	0
002342	Mount Hevey Bog cSAC	Meath/Westmeath	38	2
002343	Tullaher Lough and Bog cSAC	Clare	31	0
002346	Brown Bog cSAC	Longford
002347	Camderry Bog cSAC	Galway	14	6
002348	Clooneen Bog cSAC	Longford	12	1
002349	Corbo Bog cSAC	Roscommon	49	6
002350	Curraghlehanagh Bog cSAC	Galway	33	5
002351	Moanveanlagh Bog cSAC	Kerry	28	0
002352	Monivea Bog cSAC	Galway	49	4
002353	Redwood Bog cSAC	Tipperary	73	0
002355	Hawkswood Bog NHA	Offaly
002356	Ardgraigue Bog cSAC	Galway	22	0
Grand Total			2569	263

Please note that where sites have small numbers of applicants, detailed information has not been shown as doing so risks disclosing personal information relating to the applicants. However, this data has been included in the total figures.