There are approximately 1,200 active applications to sell land or turbary rights to my Department for which contracts have yet to be signed. In some of these cases my Department has issued letters of offer to the applicants. There are also some 250 cases for which contracts have been executed, subject to title, and the sale is awaiting closure by the legal representatives.
Having regard to available budgetary resources, my Department is continuing to process applications. At present, priority is being given under the bog purchase scheme to those wishing to sell their interest in the 32 raised bog sites which were nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation between 1997 and 1999. For these sites the ten year derogation, which allowed the continuation of turf cutting for personal domestic use, has now expired.
In cases where my Department has not entered into contracts of sale, interest will not be payable and I do not envisage any undue delay in payment where contracts have been signed and title proved to allow closure of the sale.