Anger at shift on turf-cutters’ deal

TURF-CUTTERS are once again on a collision course with Government officials whom they claim are reneging on a deal struck with the help of the Peatlands Council last month.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has been meeting with turf-cutters to compensate them for having to cease cutting turf on protected bogs.

However it has come to light that turf-cutters are being told that if they cannot find an alternative bog they must accept a financial package, which many do not want.

The Peatlands Council, headed by Conor Skehan and set up to mediate between the Government and the Turf Cutters and Contractors’ Association (TCCA), last month got both sides to agree conditions while a proper settlement was reached.

However, Mr Skehan said he was receiving many angry and disappointed phonecalls as turf-cutters feel the goalposts are being moved.

He said he was meeting with officials today to find out what exactly was going on and to bring clarity to the issue.

Already a protest has been held outside a clinic in Portumna, where NPWS officials are meeting with turf-cutters.

A spokesman for the TCCA said the reason for the protest is that NPWS is going on a solo run in telling people things that were never and would never be agreed to by turf-cutters.

“At the last Peatlands Council meeting a number of points were agreed upon, yet when our ordinary members have met with the NPWS they have been told something completely contradictory.

“The NPWS have no right to tell people that if they agree to relocate and subsequently no other bog can be found for them that the turf-cutter would be then forced to take compensation. This is factually incorrect and the NPWS have no mandate to say what they are saying.”

Furthermore people who attended clinics are also reporting they feel “pressurised” into signing a legal document without any legal representation.

Under the terms of the original agreement it was understood that active turf -cutters were being asked to indicate their preference for relocation to an alternative bog or for a financial package, totalling a maximum of €15,000 over 15 years.

In total 6,500 turf-cutters and an estimated 18,000 turf-users will be affected by the cessation of cutting on 55 bogs.