Turf Cutting
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-19
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Christopher O'Sullivan (FF), Cork South-West

I thank Deputy O'Hara and am aware of the representations that have been made by him and other Oireachtas Members from that area about these three particular bogs. The EU directive on the conservation of habitats, flora and fauna, commonly known as the habitats directive, requires all member states to select sites for the protection of habitats and species considered threatened in EU territory. Annex I of the habitats directive lists active raised bogs as priority habitats in danger of disappearing from the EU. Under the habitats directive, member states shall designate selected sites as special areas of conservation and shall take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of natural habitats within them.
The bogs referred to are special areas of conservation and wetland ecosystems of high ecological value. The main threats to their conservation arise from any actions that remove the vegetation, drain water or cause them to dry out. In the case of active raised bogs, average water levels need to be close to the surface for most of the year to survive. Turf cutting involves the direct removal of peat and the vegetation on top and associated drainage compromises the hydrological integrity of these protected bogs by lowering the water table. These changes to the bog structure do not only result in the loss of the unique raised bog ecology but under certain conditions can influence the hydrology of the bog and its surrounding landscape.
Arising from this legal obligation on the State to ensure these sites are adequately protected, and due to the damaging effect of turn cutting and associated drainage on these protected bogs, as Minister of State, I am legally prohibited from granting consent for activities which will have an adverse effect on the integrity of these sites. Under a compensation scheme introduced by the Government in 2011, €8.9 million has been paid to date to eligible applicants in the three SAC bogs in question. On average, each eligible turf cutter across these bogs has received a payment of €24,085, which is exempt from capital gains tax.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-19