Turf wars continue on conserved South Cavan bog

Some fifty people have continued to exercise their ‘traditional right’ to cut turf on their bank Clareisland Moneybeg bog on the Cavan-Westmeath border - despite its designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SPA).
Around one hundred men, women and children from the surrounding area assembled on the bog last Monday evening to assert their turf cutting rights.
Quality turf, which has recently been footed by local turf cutters to facilitate the drying process, was on view when The Anglo-Celt visited the bog on Monday to get an update on the continuing turf wars.
Around ten families have already brought home their turf to keep the home fires burning.
Chairman of the Sheelin Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, Sean Reilly said that local people had exercised their right on their private property. “No Government or European State can take that away from them,” he insisted.
When put to Mr Reilly that the Department had intimated that a number of sites have been assessed as having potential as relocation sites, and are still under consideration, he replied:
“I get a great kick out of that. Because the site they are talking about is two and a half or maybe three miles up the road and it is a cut away forestry.
“They said they would come in and take the tree stumps out of it. The amount of acreage that is in that is suitable for about eight people.
“We are talking about 100 people here who want to cut their turf and stay on their bog, with the exception that if there was a relocation bog within a couple of miles.
There is no relocation bog within twenty to twenty five miles,” said Sean Reilly.

‘Futile exercise’
Asked if they had seen monitoring planes flying over the bog, Sean Reilly reported, “We have seen some planes and a helicopter – yet again it is a waste of good taxpayers’ money and it is a futile exercise”.
Sean Reilly said that he understood from reports that the new Minister Heather Humphreys is “very fair minded,” and added “I look forward to meeting her”.
“We are ordinary decent people and a lot of them in the Department know in their heart that there is no solution to this bog here. The first Directive from Europe said that if there was a bog with a relocation problem, that they would allow limited turf cutting – all we require is limited turf cutting,” Mr Reilly explained.
Sean Reilly pointed out that where the turf was cut, no damage had been done and it will grow habitat for the rest of its life.
“It will not cost the people money – it will not cost the Government money and it will grow habitat for the remainder of its life,” he said.

Dumping Ground
Sean Reilly revealed that the bog had now become an illegal dumping ground for fly-tippers. People intent on avoiding waste collection charges take advantage of the secluded nature of the spot to dump rubbish.
The problem is further compounded, he says, because local people are afraid to come out and police their own bogs.
“Van loads of stuff is being tipped into the bog – that is simply not good enough and it never happened, when the people had the right to walk their turf banks,” said Mr Reilly.

 

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s Viewpoint

In reply to questions from The Anglo-Celt a spokesperson for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said:
“The Department have carried out aerial monitoring of the 53 designated bogs since 2011. The Department uses both the Air Corps and private aircraft to carry out this monitoring activity. However, private aircraft are only used when the Air Corps is not in a position to undertake these flights. The issue of costs incurred by the Air Corps is a matter for the Department of Defence. Helicopters are not used for this monitoring work.

Cost of monitoring
“Aerial monitoring is not confined to individual bogs and a number of designated bogs would be monitored as part of each flight. Therefore, it is not possible to calculate aerial monitoring costs for individual bogs. The Department has incurred expenditure of over €3,500 this year to date for the hire of fixed-wing private aircraft, for the purpose of aerial monitoring of activity on raised bog Special Areas of Conservation where the requirement to cease turf cutting applies. There is also ground monitoring work carried out by officials of the Department in relation to the cessation of turf cutting.
“The Gardaí are leading criminal investigations in relation to unauthorised turf cutting and evidence produced by these monitoring flights and ground patrols may be used as evidence in future prosecutions.”

Compensation scheme
“Ninety-seven applications have been received from Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme. 203 payments amounting to in the region of €300,000 together with five turf deliveries have been made under the scheme to applicants from Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs. In addition, 58 payments of €500 have been made on the signing of legal agreements under the scheme amounting to €29,000.
“A number of potential relocation sites for turf cutters from Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs were identified and then assessed by Bord na Móna, at the request of the Department. A number of these sites are not available for relocation or are not considered as suitable for relocation due to the quality of the turf there. A number of sites have been assessed as having potential as relocation sites and are still under consideration.

Review
“The Department last wrote to the Sheelin Turf Cutters and Contractors Association in May 2014 and provided an update in relation to relocation. Officials from the Department have met with representatives from this association.
“A review has been undertaken of the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme and the scheme now provides for members of the same family who had been cutting on the family bog plot(s) to apply for and be assessed for compensation under the scheme”.