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Sile de Valera announces cessation arrangements for Turf Cutting in raised Bog SACs

For release 3 February 1999

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Sile de Valera TD, and the Minister of State at her Department, Eamon O Cuiv TD, following a series of consultations over the last year with representatives of the farm organisations and turf cutters, today announced the detailed arrangements for the cessation of turf cutting on raised bogs which are proposed as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). These arrangements are necessary to implement the E.U. Habitats Directive, which requires the designation of such areas as SACs, and their protection and conservation.

Most damage to SACs is caused by industrial and commercial operations. Cuttings for industrial and commercial purpose in these bogs must cease before the 1999 cutting season. In exceptional cases to protect employment, the Minister may agree to allow cutting in 1999 where the operator has already entered into a formal agreement with her Department that they will transfer operations to a non-SAC site and will cease operations within the SAC at an early date.

Compensation will be assessed for these operations on a case by case basis and full compensation will be paid for proven actual loss.

In the case of domestic cutters, it is clear that despite the fact that there are much more users than industrial and commercial operations, the damage done to the bogs by an individual in a year is small in most situations.

The Ministers are conscious of the social and economic impacts immediate cessation would have on small communities and have decided to make exceptional arrangements in the case of cutters for domestic use. Cutters will accordingly be given a period of up to 10 years to make new arrangements.

Those who opt to continue cutting will be allowed to do so on the basis of a permit from the department, which will specify the amount of turf to be cut and the method of cutting to be used. Use of so called 'sausage machines' will not be permitted. Use of other sod turf mechanical harvesting machines will generally be permitted.

People who have been cutting for their own personal domestic use will be permitted to cut the amount of turf needed for their own use only for up to 10 years in less sensitive areas of the bog.

The Minister is announcing an enhanced compensation package for cutters. To provide an incentive for domestic cutters to cease cutting permanently before this cutting season rather than at some other time inside the ten year limit, the Minister has decided to pay a sum of £1,000, in addition to the compensation purchase option below, to cutters who are selling their turbary rights to Dúchas - The Heritage Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and who sign an agreement to that effect immediately. (This will only apply to those who have been regularly cutting for at least the last five years.) Persons who wish to avail of this offer should notify Dúchas - The Heritage Service before 31st May, 1999, and should not cut turf in the SAC this year.

These arrangements relate to Raised Bogs which have been proposed as candidate SACs. They do not apply to Blanket Bogs. The issues relating to turf cutting in Blanket Bogs are under constant review.

COMPENSATION PAYMENTS FOR RAISED BOG SACs

The Department will:

1. (a) Purchase bog for £1,300 per acre or,

(b) Purchase turbary rights only for £1,100 per acre.

or

2. Give an annual payment of £130 per acre for the 'life' of the plot subject to a maximum of 10 years.

or

3. Offer another plot in the area, if available, and make a once-off disturbance payment of £500.

4. £1,000 extra will be payable ( in addition to the payments available under Options 1 or 2) to domestic turf cutters who have been cutting regularly for the last five years, who cease cutting in a Raised Bog SAC permanently before the start of the 1999 cutting season.

NOTES

i. Farmers who are in the REPS scheme administered by the Minister for Agriculture & Food are already eligible under the scheme for a top-up payment of £30 per acre on SAC land including bog land giving a full payment of £80 per acre.

ii. Any cutter dissatisfied with the level of compensation will have the right to arbitration.

iii. Legally binding agreements must be in place before any compensation is paid.