204. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants who have availed of the €24,100 lump sum payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48266/26]

205. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants who have availed of the €1,500 annual payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48267/26]

206. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the total level of expenditure for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme since its establishment; to provide an annual breakdown of this expenditure from its establishment to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48268/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204, 205 and 206 together.

The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was established following engagement with stakeholders in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the restrictions on turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation (SAC) and was extended in 2014 to include 36 raised bog natural heritage areas (NHA).

The scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or accommodation, where feasible, on a non-designated bog, together with a once-off payment of €500 on signing a legal agreement with the Minister. Applicants interested in a relocation site had the option to receive either an annual payment or a yearly supply of home heating fuel while they awaited the investigation, preparation, and development of relocation sites.

Late qualifying applicants can receive a single lump sum payment of €24,100 in lieu of 15-years of payments.

3085 applicants have availed of the €1,500 index linked payment to date.

411 applicants have availed of the single €24,100 payment to date.

To date, almost 43,000 payments have been made under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation scheme, amounting to just under €78m. The estimated cost of the provision of payments over the lifetime of this 15-year scheme is in the region of €97 million. This is a significant investment by the State since 2011 in addressing the needs of turf cutters from these designated protected bogs.

This scheme has compensated those impacted by restrictions on turf-cutting on protected sites, and over its 15-year term has helped to ensure the conservation of important peatland sites of unique ecological value.

** figures above include expenditure related to relocation and related items.