Turf cutting ban in 32 midlands bogs

Turf cutting in 32 bogs in the midlands region has been banned and a similar ban on 24 other bogs will come into effect next year, Minister for Environment John Gormley has said.

He confirmed the ending of the 10-year derogation on the 1999 EU ban non-commercial cutting for the 32 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

Mr Gormley confirmed the ending of the derogation following a Government decision. Although the derogation for the 32 areas ended on January 1st, it has met fierce opposition from a number of turf cutters, including the Turf Cutters and Contractors' Association which has sought to maintain rights handed down through generations.

The Minister said that less than 5 per cent of the State's peatlands would be affected by the ban, and an estimated 750 people have cut or "harvested" bog in the 32 raised bogs. The department's figures are that some 2,500 people cut turf in all bogs.

But Independent Roscommon councillor Luke "Ming" Flanagan, spokesman for the association, claimed at least 6,000 people would be affected in

the 32 raised bog complexes in North Roscommon, East Galway, parts of Mayo and Offaly, including Clara bog in Taoiseach Brian Cowen's constituency.

Cllr Flanagan said the State owned 92 per cent of the 32 affected bog complexes. "It would take us 500 years to exhaust the bogs we have", he said.

An interim payment has been offered to people who have turf cutting rights handed down from one generation to the next, to compensate them for the loss of turf this year. An estimated €5.4 million has been paid out to date in interim compensation.

A final compensation package is under negotiation and is expected to be concluded next year. Elements under consideration include cash payments and permission to cut turf in other non-SAC bogland.

But Mr Flanagan insisted that he and members of the association would continue to "cut our turf as we have done for hundreds of years".