Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2012
323 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he has taken to ensure that offences under 36(2) of the Habitats Regulations are not committed on raised bog special areas of conservation this summer. [30409/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra324 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of names of persons that have been notified by his Department to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine as cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation in 2012 broken down by county. [30410/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together.
Activity on all 53 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation, where the requirement to cease turf cutting applies, is being monitored on an ongoing basis, both from the ground and from the air.
Where evidence of unlawful cutting is detected, it is investigated and enforcement action is undertaken jointly by officials of my Department and An Garda Síochána. Evidence gathered through this monitoring and surveillance work can be used for pursuing the individuals concerned. Sanctions available where the law is breached include prosecution, the impounding of machinery, and the recovery of remediation and restoration costs from individuals who have caused environmental damage. Thus far, some 70 letters have issued from my Department warning turf cutters and contractors about the implications and potential consequences of illegal turf cutting. This work is continuing.
Persons undertaking unauthorised works on protected sites may also risk future Single Farm payments, Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) payments, or payments under my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme. In addition, persons who carry out unauthorised works or permit such works to be carried out on these sites may jeopardise the receipt of compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, administered by my Department.
My Department has begun to cross-report unlawful turf cutting to the Cross Compliance Section of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine — some 45 such reports have been transmitted so far. 28 of these reports relate to turf cutting on bogs in County Galway, with the remaining 17 relating to bogs in County Roscommon.
