MINISTER FOR Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs Jimmy Deenihan has met strong resistance to his latest attempt to resolve the row over banning turf cutting on protected boglands.
Mr Deenihan has sought tenders to deliver 10 tonnes of turf annually to private houses in 14 counties where turf cutters can no longer work on bogs protected by the EU Habitats Directive.
He said this was an “interim measure” for those who wished to relocate to alternative bogland that is not designated as environmentally sensitive habitat.
The relocation would be an alternative to compensation.
Compensation payments of €1,000 annually for a maximum of 15 years to those who were cutting turf on more than 50 designated Special Areas of Conservation were offered by Mr Deenihan in April.
The offer was rejected by members of the Cloonmoylan and Barroughter Bogs Action Group in east Galway.
They met Mr Deenihan in Dublin yesterday.
Independent TD Luke “Ming” Flanagan, who is the spokesman for the Irish Turf Cutters and Contractors’ Association, described as “environmental madness” the proposal to truck turf from elsewhere.
