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Compensation Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Ceisteanna (405)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

405. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a claim for the turf cutters compensation scheme by a person (details supplied) will be re-examined. [19849/20]

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Freagraí scríofa

An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. With respect to 36 raised bog natural heritage area sites, the qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:

- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf)) in one of these sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;

- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period up to 14 January 2014;

- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and

- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.

The applicant was informed by my Department that she did not fulfil all of the qualifying criteria of the scheme as it would appear that turf cutting by the applicant had not taken place on the bog plot in question during the five year qualifying period. The applicant was advised that she could request a Departmental review of this decision, which she has not yet requested. Such a review would be undertaken by an official at a higher level that the officer who made the initial decision.

Under the scheme, if a decision of my Department is upheld at the Departmental review stage, the applicant has the opportunity to appeal against the decision to the Peatlands Council.

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