Frank Feighan
Ceist:306 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding turbary rights in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [14982/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 21 March 2012
Ceisteanna (295)
Freagraí scríofa
In 2011 the Government announced a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and has recently agreed to enhance this compensation package. The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme now comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters 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 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 for qualifying turf cutters will be provided this year where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
One of the qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme is that the claimant must have been cutting turf on the lands in question in the relevant five year period. 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. It is not proposed to make the financial payment in such cases.