Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
930. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is designating further bogs at present for 2014 including Killaclogher Bog, Monivea, Athenry, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38230/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2005 and 2006, 75 raised bog sites were designated as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) under the Wildlife Acts. Killaclogher bog is one such site. In May 2010, the then Government decided that turf-cutting should come to an end on all raised bog NHAs, at the end of 2013. The current Programme for Government includes an undertaking to review the situation with regard to NHAs and the future of turf-cutting on such sites will be considered as part of that review. It is intended that the review will be completed prior to the commencement of the 2014 turf-cutting season. The outcomes of the review and the proposed approach to the future of turf-cutting within these sites will be discussed as part of the Government’s ongoing dialogue with the European Commission regarding compliance with EU law in this area.
