Written answer
Turf Cutting
334. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants who have availed of the €1,500 annual payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, by year, since the creation of the scheme; the total number of new successful applicants who have availed of the €1,500 annual payment under the scheme by year since its creation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50429/26]
Comment on this
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 comprises a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or where feasible, accommodation, on a non-designated bog, with a once-off contribution to legal advice of €500 on signing a legal agreement with the Minister. Applicants who expressed a preference for a relocation site received 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 receive a single lump sum payment of €24,100 in lieu of 15-years of payments.
Number of applicants in receipt of a €1,500 annual payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme in each given year:
The total number of new applicants approved for the €1,500 annual payment under the scheme by year since its introduction.
To date, almost 43,000 payments have issued under the scheme, amounting to just under €78m. The estimated cost of the provision of payments over the lifetime of this 15-year scheme is €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.