Call for clarity on whether ‘turf inspectors’ are going into people’s homes

People in Donegal are living in fear of turf inspectors coming into their homes and sheds and confiscating their turf.

That is according to a number of councillors who called for clarification on the matter at the October meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal.

Cllr Michael McMahon (SF) raised the matter, saying there was widespread concern about alleged turf inspectors.

“Is this another ploy by the Green Party?” he asked.

“People have enough problems without worrying that someone is going to go into their house and take away their turf, or go into their shed or onto the bog.

“The Farmers Journal wrote an article saying the council will be getting involved.

“I ask that they leave the people alone who are going out and getting turf and lighting a fire.”

Cllr Jimmy Brogan (Ind) said: “It is wet timber too. It is ridiculous.”

Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF) described the rumours a lot of scaremongering, saying: “The law has not changed.

“I am an individual with a plot of turf and I am entitled to cut for myself and my neighbour. That is the law.

“I cannot sell bags of turf at the petrol station or the market. 

“That is the law, and while I am able to speak, that will not change in Donegal.

He called for Donegal County Council to come out and give clarity on the issue which is causing a lot of fear and distress.

“Elderly people are sitting around in their houses and they are afraid to put smoke out of their chimney,” he said.

The council went further, saying that there was an unreasonable burden of climate action on the people of Donegal and rural Ireland.

“Only 0.001% of the world’s emissions come from Ireland,” he said. “You have wars happening, you have the Russians and Americans and Chinese contributing to emissions in a far bigger way than Ireland.

“And when we talk about climate, you never hear anyone talking about an aeroplane, it is turf.

“There is a generation of people in rural Ireland that were never on a plane in their life. They didn’t put holes in the ozone layer.

“But we are thinking that we should put someone off the bog in Pettigo or Glencolmcille.

“Over 90% of the houses in this county are heated by solid fuel.

“Saying that an inspector is going in and taking turf out of our sheds, that will not happen because we are entitled to cut our bog for our own use. 

“We need to be realistic for rural Ireland and rural Donegal. What is being said is crazy.”

Cllr Manus Boyle (FG) supported the comments made by his fellow councillors. 

“I cut turf all my life,” he said. “I second what has been said.”

Donegal County Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer Suzanne Bogan she had not heard any reports of inspectors going into homes but would check to see what was being said.

Ms Bogan acknowledged that Cllr Naughton was correct with the current law regarding cutting of turf for personal use. 

However, she said there was a review underway in relation to regulations surrounding the burning of solid fuel. 

“I will look into it and get clarification.”

Regarding the comments made about rural Donegal’s role in climate action, she stressed: “It is really important that we remember that we all have a role to play as an individual and a local authority.”