Minister Deenihan’s Turf Package Must Be Extended Further

IFA SAC Project Chairman Padraig Divilly has welcomed the move by Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan to allow farmers and landowners restricted from turfcutting to be supplied with turf.

Mr Divilly said IFA had sought this provision as one of the options that was necessary to deal with the restrictions imposed on 32 raised bogs in 2011.

The IFA Chairman said, “Along with this move, the Minister must also provide more options where restrictions have been imposed. These should include relocation to neighbouring bogs, an increase of the compensation deal from €1,000 to €2,000, and that the period of time for the compensation to apply should be extended from 15 years to the lifetime of the bog.”