Some €22.6m has been paid out to turf cutters to date under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS), data released to Agriland has revealed.
The scheme was established to compensate land owners and turbary right holders affected by the restriction on turf cutting on the 53 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
This €22.6m is comprised of amounts paid in respect of annual payments, turf deliveries, relocation, and once-off incentive payments.
The data, provided by the Department of Arts Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, shows that some 3,237 applications have been received under the scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation.
Of these applications, 586 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs and to date, 324 applications have not been successful, the data shows.
In respect of these applications, 11,161 payments and 902 deliveries of turf have been made.
In 2014 the scheme was extended to land owners and turbary right holders affected in raised bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs).
In relation to these sites, 255 applications have been received and 369 payments have been made, according to the Department.
In addition, 24 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made to applicants in NHAs. The total expenditure under the scheme on NHA sites to date is €561,000.
The Department has also given a breakdown by county of applications and payments:
The scheme comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf.
Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of 15t of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared.
The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State.
The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on May 25, 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is on-going on the property.