And an organisation which represents rural communities believes it could push families into fuel poverty.
The four bogs affected include Ballynafagh Bog where turf cutting will end this year, Mouds Bog where it will end in 2012, and Carbury Bog an
d Hodgestown Bog where it will end in 2014.
Irish Rural Link made a submission on the matter to the Department of Environment's Cessation of Turf Cutting Working Group last Tuesday, September 15, and argued that "rural households have limited options to switch fuels.
"The double hit of the cessation of turf cutting and a carbon tax will push hundreds of low income rural households into fuel poverty," the organisation's policy and communications officer, Seán O'Leary explained to the Working Group.
"A household is considered fuel poor when it must spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain an adequate level of warmth," he told the Leinster Leader.
"Turf is an inexpensive source of fuel, and can be at least 60% cheaper than oil, with the majority of the cost coming from labour."
And they recommended that a compensation package for those no longer able to cut turf must be devised.
The Working Group is set to make its recommendations in a number of weeks.
