In April 2011, the Government announced a redress package for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation. The package offers qualifying turf cutters the option of a financial payment of €1,000 per year, index linked, over 15 years or, where feasible, relocation to non-designated bogs, where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of cut turf while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State.
My Department is currently processing almost 650 applications for compensation under this Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme. The majority of applications relate to the 29 raised bog special areas of conservation designated between 1997 and 1999 and for which the deadline for the receipt of applications has now passed. To date, 51 applicants have received payments under the scheme.
For the 24 sites designated up to 2002, the closing date for the receipt of applications was 29 February 2012 and, as such, more applications are expected to be received in the coming weeks.
If an individual has a legal interest in one of the 53 designated sites and had not been extracting turf in the relevant five year period, my Department is willing to examine the feasibility of relocating such interests to alternative non-designated bogs.
Details of the number of applications received under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme and the number of payments made to date for Cos. Galway and Roscommon are set out in the following table.
There are no sites in Co. Leitrim affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation.
Since 1999 my Department has operated a Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme under which sites in designated bogs have been purchased by the Department at agreed rates. In May 2010, this scheme was closed to new applicants. Where applicants under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme have received a letter of offer but contracts have not been signed, my Department will be writing to applicants to outline their options under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme.
Sites designated between 1997 and 1999
Site Code
|
Site Name
|
County
|
Number of applications received
|
Number of payments
|
000231
|
Barroughter Bog
|
Galway
|
22
|
2
|
000248
|
Cloonmoylan Bog
|
Galway
|
38
|
6
|
000285
|
Kilsallagh Bog
|
Galway
|
15
|
2
|
000296
|
Lisnageeragh Bog and Ballinstack Turlough
|
Galway
|
12
|
1
|
000297
|
Lough Corrib
|
Galway/Mayo
|
28
|
3
|
000301
|
Lough Lurgeen Bog/ Glenamaddy Turlough
|
Galway
|
19
|
|
000326
|
Shankill West Bog
|
Galway
|
6
|
1
|
000592
|
Bellanagare Bog
|
Roscommon
|
97
|
6
|
000597
|
Carrowbehy/Caher Bog
|
Roscommon
|
2
|
|
000600
|
Cloonchambers Bog
|
Roscommon
|
6
|
|
000604
|
Derrinea Bog
|
Roscommon
|
1
|
|
000614
|
Cloonshanville Bog
|
Roscommon
|
6
|
2
|
001242
|
Carrownagappul Bog
|
Galway
|
85
|
1
|
002110
|
Corliskea/Trien/Cloonfelliv Bog
|
Galway/Roscommon
|
16
|
2
|
Sites designated up to 2002
Site Code
|
Site Name
|
County
|
Number of applications received
|
Number of payments
|
440
|
Lough Ree
|
Roscommon/ Longford/Westmeath
|
10
|
|
595
|
Callow Bog
|
Roscommon
|
6
|
|
2298
|
River Moy
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Sligo
|
3
|
|
2338
|
Drumalough Bog
|
Roscommon
|
1
|
|
2339
|
Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough
|
Roscommon
|
4
|
|
2347
|
Camderry Bog
|
Galway
|
0
|
|
2349
|
Corbo Bog
|
Roscommon
|
3
|
|
2350
|
Curraghlehanagh Bog
|
Galway
|
9
|
|
2352
|
Monivea Bog
|
Galway
|
0
|
|
2354
|
Tullaghanrock Bog
|
Roscommon
|
1
|
|
2356
|
Ardgraigue Bog
|
Galway
|
0
|
|