Vol. 504 No. 6
71 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the consideration, if any, she has given to the West Roscommon Turf Cutters Association proposal to allow its members to cut on the fringes of the designated bogs with her Department providing mechanisms to protect the interior of the bog; if this proposal is compliant with Directive 92/43; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12495/99]
All proposals put to my Department regarding turf cutting in raised bogs proposed as special areas of conservation, including the one from the West Roscommon Turf Cutters Association, were examined in full. Unfortunately, mechanisms to protect the interior of bogs, i.e., to prevent, in particular, the drying out of the bog, cannot be guaranteed to be successful and, as such, would not be compliant with Directive No. 92/43/EEC, which obliges me to protect and conserve such designated areas. The only option, therefore, is to cease intensive cutting immediately.
