Just seven turfcutters have been relocated to new bogs in the past seven years, Roscommon South-Leitrim TD Denis Naughten has learned.

In correspondence between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Deputy Naughten through a parliamentary question in the Dáíl last week, it emerged that seven turfcutters have been relocated by the NPWS to non-designated bogs in the last 12 months.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Deputy Naughten said: “Since the introduction of bog designations, there has been a complete failure to deliver on a fundamental plank of this law, to relocate turfcutters to alternative sites, with just 6% of turfcutters transferred.

“The abject failure of the NPWS to deliver an alternative turf bank for those wishing to continue to cut turf clearly shows that it is incapable of performing one of its basic functions and, as a result, senior management should themselves be relocated,” Deputy Naughten said.

The Irish Farmers Journal was unable to make contact with the NPWS before going to print.