GALWAY CLLR ANGRY EUROPE IS NOT FOOTING THE BILL FOR TURF CUTTING COMPENSATION

Date Published: 18-Dec-2012

A County Councillor says he is angry with the revelation that Ireland and not Europe is footing the bill for compensating landowners affected by the turf cutting ban.

Peter Roche made the statement following a presentation by the national parks and wildlife service to members of the west regional authority in the city today.

According to Conor O’ Raghallaigh of the NPWS, almost 2 million euro in compensation has been paid out to landowners in the western region to date.

The EU imposed the habitats directive over 20 years ago and one of the key obligations on Ireland was to designate SACs.

There is a bias in the west for SACs because of the blanket bogs, and also because of the greater ecological interest in the west of Ireland.

23 of the 56 of the raised bog special areas of conservation are based in the west, with 12 spread across County Galway.

The compensation on offer to affected landowners includes 15 hundred euro per anum for 15 years, or the re-location to a non designated bog.

The issue of the EU ban has been a contentious one over the years particularly in Galway with some raised bog owners continuing to cut turf on designated land.

However, today’s meeting heard that nationally there was a 70 percent compliance with the law when it came to SACs.

Abbeyknockmoy based councillor Peter Roche, who is a member of the West region authority claims the compensation plan is not working