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

By law, I am not permitted to allow cutting on the bog in question. It has been designated. A process was undergone. The Deputy can question how that process was conducted, but this is now a designated SAC, By law, I have to make sure that the integrity of the site and the habitat remains intact. As a result, I am not allowed to permit cutting there. A total of €8.9 million was paid out in respect of the three bogs referred to by the Deputy. In total, €97 million has been paid out under the cessation of turf cutting scheme, which has worked for the vast majority of communities and led to those with turf cutting rights receiving payments but also to the integrity of these bogs and habitats being maintained. I reiterate that I cannot permit cutting on these bogs.

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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