Future use of cutaway bogs
Asked whether cutaway bogs would remain in public ownership, the Minister said about two-thirds were expected to be suitable for afforestation and that the land would remain publicly owned.
Will the Minister make provision for retaining in public ownership the tens of thousands of cutaway bogs which will be coming on during the next few years?
Comment on this
Studies were carried out for almost 20 years as to what was to be done with the cutaway bogs. On coming into Government we immediately set about the use of about two-thirds of the cutaway bogs. The board have about 88,000 hectares of bogland and it is expected that about two-thirds of it will be suitable for afforestation. Already some 2,500 hectares have been handed over by Bord na Móna for forestry. That is all in public ownership.