The Irish Farmers Association has rejected criticism from the Turf Cutters Association over a deal it concluded with the Government over compensation for the cessation of turf cutting on raised bogs and bog sales in environmentally sensitive areas.
The TCA had complained that the deal negotiated by the IFA was delivering too little to bog owners who should be getting up to €60,000 for an acre of bog, a figure set by Bord na Móna in its annual accounts.
The IFA has negotiated a purchase price of €9,500 for the first acre of bog or part thereof and €3,000 an acre thereafter.
People with turbary rights can sell those at 85 per cent of these prices.
"The reality is this deal has put a floor under the price of bogland for bog owners and it gives people the opportunity to sell at a reasonable price," said the IFA Western Committee chairman, Mr Martin Gavin.
"Since the deal was concluded at the end of July, IFA has had a considerable number of inquiries from farmers around the country who have land in bogs and are interested in selling," he said.
"The deal negotiated by IFA doesn't involve compulsion for anyone. It simply gives people choices, where in the past there was virtually no market and they had very few options."
Mr Gavin rejected other criticisms by the Turf Cutters Association, saying the IFA represented the vast majority of farmers owning bog in the country.
"They know a good deal when they see one. They see real value being put on their asset and now they have a choice to sell, if they want to," he said.
"If people don't wish to sell, they don't have to, and they can continue cutting turf for another 10 years. Up to now, people cutting turf were doing so under a derogation, which was due to expire in 2006 and 2007.
"The situation has dramatically changed now and people can continue cutting turf up to 2015, when the situation will be reviewed.
"In fact, the IFA is confident people who want to cut their own turf will be able to do so indefinitely into the future."
The turf cutters claimed last week that the IFA has no right to represent bog owners.