51. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a compensation scheme available to a farmer who is no longer cutting turf in his bog (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38154/24]

My Department operates two schemes that support households and individuals to cease cutting turf and facilitate measures to restore the peatland habitat.

The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) compensates households for the lack of access to fuel for domestic home heating as a result of the restrictions on turf cutting on raised bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation and certain Natural Heritage Areas.

Additional bog plots not covered by the CTCCS may qualify for the Protected Raised Bog Restoration Incentive Scheme. This is a once off area based compensation scheme open to applications from property right holders who wish to have their lands included as part of the restoration scheme or where access is required for restoration works within a designated raised bog.

Whilst the exact location of the bog plot referred to is unknown, it is my understanding that there are no designated bogs in the townland name provided and hence these schemes may not apply.

In addition to the schemes outlined above the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department operates the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. This supports landowners to:• deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, known collectively as Natura 2000 sites,• to support farmland biodiversity more generally, and• to provide a platform for trialing new conservation approaches which can be delivered on a wider scale.

These actions can include a range of activities that contribute to conservation of habitats and species. Further details of this scheme are available on the website www.npws.ie .