Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2015
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has secured European Union agreement to facilitate traditional turf cutters, who have traditionally and constantly utilised their entitlement, by way of offering an alternative to their use of bogs that have been designated as special areas of conservation or national heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24441/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has had discussions with representatives of traditional turf cutters, with a view to resolving difficulties in respect of the implementation of special areas of conservation and national heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24442/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.
Since this Government has come into office, huge efforts have been made to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland's raised bog candidate special areas of conservation within the framework of the EU Habitats Directive. This has included intense and on-going engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission. A long term compensation scheme was introduced to compensate cutters for their loss. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog together with a once-off incentive payment of €500.
The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan was published in January 2014. It sets out how the raised bog candidate special areas of conservation are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed.
Notwithstanding the complexity involved, progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in a number of cases. Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the raised bog candidate special areas of conservation where relocation may be required. When relocation sites have been assessed as suitable, my Department has been seeking expressions of interest from turf cutters with a view to them moving to these sites.
For a number of these candidate special area of conservation sites, the relocation site identified may not be suitable or may not have the capacity to cater for the number of turf cutters who may wish to relocate there. In such cases, and in the context of the finalisation of the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, my Department, in consultation with turf cutting interests, is considering the available options in terms of relocation and the provisions of the Habitats Directive. Under article 6.3 of the Directive, consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog candidate special area of conservation where it can be shown that such cutting will not have an adverse effect on the site. Under article 6.4 of the Directive, consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog candidate special area of conservation for imperative reasons of overriding public interest.
Given the clear scientific evidence of the negative impact of turf extraction on raised bogs, it will only be possible to utilise the provisions of article 6.3 in a small number of cases. Similarly, the flexibility provided for under article 6.4, if required, will only be applicable to a small number of sites.
Final resolution of all issues in relation to the protection of Ireland's raised bog candidate special areas of conservation will only be brought about by everyone working together, within the law, with my Department and with the Peatlands Council, which was established with the purpose of ensuring the input from all stakeholders.
The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas. The Review has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas.
