Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2012

Thursday, 27 September 2012

Ceisteanna (110)

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

110. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht when turf compensation payment will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Roscommon [41213/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Government has put in place a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This 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 where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. An application for compensation under the scheme has been received by my Department for each of the individuals referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that the position in relation to each applicant is as set out in the following table in the order in which the individuals are referred to in the details supplied with the Question.

Ref Number	Current status of application under the scheme
CS/0592/012	A total payment of €3,000 in respect of the first and second year is scheduled to be made to the applicant on 27 September 2012.
CS/0592/109	A payment of €1,500 in respect of the first year was made to the applicant on 1 June 2012. My Department has commenced making payments in respect of the second year to those who had been cutting in raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999, such as the applicant. A payment in this regard will be made to the applicant as soon as possible.
CS/0595/068	A payment of €1,500 in respect of the first year was made to the applicants on 24 September 2012. Payments in respect of the second year to those who had been cutting in raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation in 2002, such as the applicants, are not due to be made until 2013.
CS/2110/004	The applicant has indicated that he cut turf in a raised bog special area of conservation in 2011 and, thus, is not eligible for compensation in respect of the first year (2011). A payment of €1,500 in respect of the second year was made to the applicant on 21 September 2012.
CS/0592/090	A payment of €1,500 in respect of the first year and a payment of €1,500 in respect of the second year were made to the applicant on 23 March 2012 and 24 September 2012 respectively.
CS/0600/17	The applicant sold his interest in land in a raised bog special area of conservation under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department. An incentive bonus of €6000, available under the scheme, was also paid to the applicant at the time of purchase on the condition that he was selling all plots of bog land in his possession and registered or unregistered turbary rights within a designated area. My Department is giving consideration to the position of such applicants, under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, who have applied for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.
CS/0592/124	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, however, an individual has a legal interest in one of the 53 designated raised bog 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. The applicant had not been extracting turf from the site in the relevant five year period and has not expressed an interest in relocation to an alternative non-designated bog. My Department will be writing to him in relation to his position in due course.