More turf cutters apply for relocation from SACs

By TOPM GILMORE FIGURES released by the Government this week suggest that the majority of turf cutters in this area of Galway are opting for either relocation or compensation, or both, in the controversial Cessation of Turf Cutting Scheme in raised bogs and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). But while Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan says over €1 million has now been paid to the owners of bogs that are in whole, or in part, located in Co Galway, not everyone is happy. Some turf cutters say relocation is problematic and many of the alternative bogs are of poorer quality than the ones they have been using, some for generations. However it appears from figures released by the Department, that in five bogs in this area of North East Galway 305 applied for the scheme, 209 of those also opted for financial compensation while only 96 expressed no interest in relocation. 15-year scheme[private] Under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, affected turf cutters who are eligible for the scheme receive a total of €23,000, index linked and tax free, over the course of the scheme which is 15 years.  Applicants may also apply for relocation to a bog where they can continue cutting turf legally and, in the interim, can apply for the financial payment or a delivery of turf to their homes. The bogs in this area that are impacted by the changes under the EU Habitats Directive are Lough Corrib where 89 applications were received and only eight expressed no interest in relocation. In Lough Lurgeen and Glenamaddy Turlough 29 applied and nine were not interested. In Shankill West, near Kilkerrin, ten applied and only three had no interest in relocating while the biggest of the bogs, Carrownagappul near Mountbellew had 132 applicants for the scheme while 70 not interested. In Monivea Bog the figure was 45 while six were uninterested in relocation. But in South Galway serious differences arose last summer in Clonmoylan and Barroughter bogs. The situation there has ended up in the courts with major cases due to be heard in the coming weeks regarding a stand off between several turf cutters, Department inspectors and the Gardai. Minister Deenihan says that Special Areas of Conservation are legally protected under Irish and European law. But since becoming Minister, he has made it his priority to work with turf cutters, to enhance the compensation available to them, to have turf delivered to their homes, and to find relocation bogs where they can continue to harvest turf legally. â€Å“I must also work to ensure that Ireland is not fined up to €25,000 per day for damage to conservation areas. Thatâ€â„¢s a fine the taxpayer cannot afford, especially at this time. Instead, I want to use the resources that are available to me to compensate turf cutters. Weâ€â„¢re asking turf cutters on these bogs to accept the package, or relocate to a new bog, so that some of our remaining raised bogs can be preserved for future generations. â€Å“I know itâ€â„¢s a big ask, but the majority of turf cutters have come with us and I thank them for that. I think the beneficiaries of this will be our children and their children who will still be able to visit and appreciate the wonderful habitat that is the bog in 50 or 100 years time, unlike in much of the rest of Europe where these bogs have been cut away and lost forever,â€Â says Minister Deenihan. Problematic But one turf cutter in the Mountbellew area said relocation is problematic, often due to the bog owner being offered an alternative bog in an area that is too far from where the family would usually cut their turf. â€Å“In other instances we have been offered new bogs where the quality of turf will not be up to the standard of where we have been cutting it for generations. â€Å“It takes a new bog several many decades for the quality of the turf to improve with constant cutting and drainage and that is why the standard of turf in the older raised bogs is so high as some have been in use for centuries,â€Â he said. He added that while many were opting for relocation and compensation others would be back cutting turf in bogs that are designated SACs â€Å“within the next few weeksâ€Â and this could result in more stand offs with the Department inspectors and the Gardai. Once a person applies for relocation to a bog where they can cut turf legally, and if a suitable bog is not found immediately, in the interim they can apply for the financial payment or a delivery of turf to their homes. However such turf deliveries were tiny for the five bogs in this area with only 36 deliveries for turf cutters in Carrownagappul Bog and Lough Lurgeen-Glenamaddy Turlough and none for those using the other three bogs. [/private]