Independent TD welcomes exemption for turf cutting

INDEPENDENT TD Luke Flanagan of Roscommon-South Leitrim has welcomed an exemption for domestic turf cutting on 75 national heritage area sites, subject to the introduction of an agreed national code of environmental practices.

“This is excellent news and I hope it will be followed through,” he said.

According to Mr Flanagan, who has acted as PRO of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, “An independent mediation committee will be established for all relevant stakeholders to deal with the 55 special areas of conservation.

“Since last April, I and many of my neighbours have been criminalised for cutting turf in Cloonchambers bog. I am delighted we are being listened to and I hope this independent mediation organisation will work better than the interdepartmental committee on the cessation of turf cutting did. It gave us a kick in the teeth, as it told us it would listen to us and would cut us some slack and that it would report back to the main stakeholders but, at the end of it all, we read in the newspapers that we were to be criminalised for cutting turf.”

“There will also be independent mediation to resolve the outstanding issues associated with turf cutting on blanket bogs. Anyone who thinks the current situation on blanket bogs means people will be allowed to cut turf should realise that using a hopper machine, which will be the only machine allowed on blanket bogs, is not an efficient or environmentally friendly way of cutting turf.

“Some use of the sausage machine must be allowed.”