Turf cutter compensation details released

A total of 229 applications for compensation have been made by turf cutters on bogs located either in whole or in part in Offaly and Laois as part of the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme according to Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Minister Jimmy Deenihan. Of that number 131 have applied for financial compensation, while the remainder are seeking relocation. To date Minister Deenihan said payments under the scheme have been made in both counties to affected turf cutters totalling €271,500. Nationally more than 2,500 applications for compensation have been received, with more than 2,100 payments issued. In addition 180 deliveries of turf have also been made to date, bringing the total expenditure of the compensation package to date to €3,409,000. Sites in Offaly nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) between 1997 and 1999 number seven in total and include All Saints bog and Esker, Clara bog, Ferbane bog, Mongan bog, Moyclare bog, Raheenmore bog and Sharavogue bog. Six compensation applications have been received for All Saints bog and Esker, four of which looked for financial compensation and two of which expressed an interest in relocation. No payments have been made in relation to that bog to date. One hundred and seven applications have been received in relation to Clara bog, with 50 of those looking for financial compensation and the remaining 57 looking to be relocated. Sixty-three payments have been made in respect of Clara bog for 2011, while 35 have been made in respect of 2012. Four applications have been made from Ferbane bog, with three quarters of those looking to be relocated. No payments have been made in respect of that bog to date. Five applications have been made from Mongan bog, with four looking for compensation and one looking to relocate. One payment has been made in respect of 2011 for that bog, and another one in respect of 2012. Twenty-five compensation applications have been made in respect of Moyclare bog, with just four of those looking for financial compensation and 21 looking to be relocated. Twenty-two payments were made in respect of 2011 for that bog, while 13 payments have been made in respect of 2012. No applications for compensation have been made in respect of Raheenmore bog, while just two - both looking for financial compensation - have been made in respect of Sharavogue bog. Speaking last Friday Minister Deenihan said progress has been made this year in working towards a long-term resolution to the turf cutting issue in Offaly. He said he wants now to continue that progress and work with affected turf cutters in 2013 so compensation and relocation options can be provided for all those impacted by the cessation of turf cutting on the 53 SAC raised bogs. "Coming from rural Ireland I know the depth of feeling on this issue," Minister Deenihan said. "The bog on which my own family on my mother's side has cut turf for more than 100 years is one of the bogs that is being protected. However, Ireland signed the Habitats Directive 20 years ago and agreed to protect some of our raised bogs as they are unique in Europe, a fundamentally important part of our landscape and heritage, and preserve a wealth of wildlife. "This year I enhanced the compensation package available to turf cutters. An affected turf cutter signing up for compensation will receive a total of €23,000, index linked and tax free, over the course of the scheme. I want to continue to work with affected turf cutters next year - 2013 is a particularly important year as we focus intensively on preparing relocation options for affected turf cutters and devise the national plan for the management of these raised bogs."