MEP CALLS FOR ACTION ON SOUTH GALWAY RAISED BOGS

Date Published: 15-Feb-2012

De-designation of some raised bogs in South Galway must be seriously considered by government and the European Commission.

That's according to North West MEP Marian Harkin who has attended a meeting in Brussels with a delegation from the Barroughter, Clonmoylan and Ardraigue Bogs Action Group.

12 bog complexes across County Galway are impaced by the ban on domestic turfcutting - about a quarter of the number of designated boglands nationally.

MEP Higgins has called for an investigation into the possibility for de-designating all or parts of raised boglands while designating alternatives in order to comply with EU law.

She's also calling for an increase to the compensation package on offer which she says does not currently provide any incentive for landowners.