Turf Cutting
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-07
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Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (FF), Carlow-Kilkenny

I thank the Deputy. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister.
Ireland is one of 196 signatories to the Convention of Biological Diversity, signed in 1992 and ratified in 1996. However, the treaty requires Ireland to establish a system of protected areas to conserve biodiversity. To implement this across member states, the habitats directive was adopted by the European Council of Ministers in 1992 and this was transposed into Irish law in 1997.
Commencing in 1997, Ireland has protected 441 special areas of conservation, SACs, thereby recognising that Ireland is endowed with a rich network of peatlands. These include 53 raised bog SACs within the scope of the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. The main threats to these sites are the actions that remove vegetation, drain water or cause them to dry out. For active raised bog, the average water level needs to be close to the surface for most of the year.
As the Deputy said, turf cutting involves a combination of these activities and associated draining lowers the water levels. These change the bog structure and result in loss of drainage. For this reason, turf cutting cannot continue on these raised bog SACs. From the outset, the State recognised the significance of turf cutting for many families and communities and ensured a significant lead-in period for those affected. The Deputy spoke about the 15 years.
Notification of these raised bog SACs were issued between 1997 and 2002. The voluntary bog purchase scheme was launched in 1999 and a ten-year derogation for turf cutting for domestic use only for these sites was also announced in 1999. A complete cessation of turf cutting was announced for all raised bog SACs in 2012 and 2011, accompanied by the launch of the cessation of the turf cutting compensation scheme. This means the affected households received an advanced notice of the restrictions but also the 15 years of financial support to assist with the transition. This scheme has provided an annual payment of €1,500 linked with inflation, together with a once-off legal agreement payment and if not, an alternative option was available.
Over the lifetime of the scheme, the State will invest approximately €96 million in compensation to turf cutters affected by the restrictions on protected raised bogs. More than 3,500 active turf cutters have benefited from these supports. The Government continues to support those affected through a range of other initiatives, which include home energy efficiency grants through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, which can provide grants up to 100% for home retrofitting and fuel allowance payments through the Department for Social Protection for households at risk of fuel poverty.
These sites continue to hold significant ecological value and they are vital for biodiversity, they mitigate climate flood impacts and they are part of our cultural and ecological heritage. In many cases habitat restoration measures are necessary to restore these bogs to a healthy ecological condition.
The State has worked collaboratively with the turf cutters, contractors and their representatives under the scheme and this has resulted in a cessation of turf cutting of 85% of the raised bog SACs since 2011. These restrictions are necessary to address these issues raised by the European Commission in legal proceedings against Ireland in the European Court of Justice.
I thank the Deputy for raising this. What he has raised here tonight, I will have to ask the Minister about. Unfortunately, at the last minute the Minister could not take this matter. I can see the Deputy's concern about the 15 years and what is going to happen going forward. I will revert this question to the Minister. I think it is important we do appreciate the work that is done.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-07/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-07