Unauthorised turf-cutting has fallen by over 45%, says Deenihan

Arts and Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan last night said progress was being made in resolving the vexed, illegal turf-cutting row.

While some people are continuing to defy the EU and Government ban on turf-cutting in 53 raised bogs, the minister said unauthorised turf cutting in the bogs, which are in Special Conservation Areas, this year declined by over 45% compared with 2012.

The bogs are mainly in western counties, including one near the minister’s political base, Listowel, Co Kerry.

Mr Deenihan told the Cabinet yesterday that over 3,800 individual payments have been made since the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was introduced in 2011.

Some 292 deliveries of turf had also been made to homes and over €6m had been paid to affected turf cutters in compensation.

As well as that, he said 790 turf cutters had indicated they were interested in being relocated to alternative bogs and work was ongoing in sourcing relocation sites.

Mr Deenihan said: “We are continuing to make progress on this issue. That is vital, as Ireland is at risk of daily fines of up to €25,000 if we fail to preserve raised bogs that are protected by Irish and European law.’’

He also said he intended to publish a draft national peatlands strategy, a draft national raised bog SAC management plan, and a review of raised bog natural heritage areas before the end of 2013.

The development of a national raised bog SAC management plan was called for in a unanimous Dáil vote, in 2012, in a motion which called on the Government to engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive.

It also called for the preparation of a national raised bog restoration plan, to be submitted to the Commission as a matter of urgency. The development of this plan was also a key recommendation of Mr Justice John Quirke in the Peatlands Forum Report.