Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Turbary rights must be respected - Harvey

Published: 1 March, 2010

Turbary Rights must be respected - Cllr Harvey.

Stranorlar Area Sinn Fein Councillor Cora Harvey has raised concerns in relation to rights of Turbary in the vicinity of Lough Mourne as preparation work gets underway for the Letterkenny and Lough Mourne water scheme.

Phase one of the multi million scheme went to tender last year and initial preparation has begun and people have already seen their land "fenced off".

Cllr Harvey states:

"A number of registered land owners and people with turbary rights have approached me on this issue. People have concerns in relation to turf cutting this spring as access to their bog has been blocked as the council have now fenced off land that will be included in the CPO for the capital scheme. The fences were installed to mark out the boundary and to protect the Lough.

The Council have told me that all registered land owners that were identified have been consulted with and negotiations have taken place for the CPO.

However, Cllr Harvey continues, due to the nature of turbary as it is historical in nature, people with percieved turbary rights may not have been identified by the Local Authority and therefore may not feel that they have been properly consulted with. People with turbary may not have title deeds of the land that they cut, as they may have acquired their turbary rights through prescription.

I would urge anyone who feels that they have turbary rights in the vicinity of Lough Mourne and are affected by the proposed works to make contact with the Capital Projects section of the Water and Environment section of Donegal County Council so as their concerns can be rectified.

People will certainly be compensated for giving up their turbary rights, if turbary is rightly identified.

Finally as the cutting season draws closer and people have concerns regarding access to their bog banks, they should contact Donegal County Council.