Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2005
822 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the assessment which has been carried out of the impact of peat extraction on adjacent or nearby peatland special areas of conservation for the purposes of the habitats directive; the number of licences for such activity which have been granted under the habitats regulations. [22724/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe impact of peat extraction is a significant issue for raised bog habitats, of which 57 sites have been proposed as candidate special areas of conservation, SACs. Any commercial peat extraction on these sites has been stopped.
Since 1999, owners of bog and turbary rights in these SACs have been advised generally that they may continue domestic turf cutting for up to ten years, except in particularly sensitive areas of the bog. Compensation has been provided to those agreeing to cease cutting. A formal licensing system has not been invoked, and consent has been given at a local level for domestic cutting, except where particularly sensitive areas of the bogs have been identified.
My Department has commissioned surveys of continuing domestic turf cutting in these sites. Field survey work has been completed and a final report will be available by the end of this year. This will give a clear indication of the impact of all turf cutting on these sites and enable decisions to be taken on any necessary prioritisation of areas for cessation of domestic cutting.
