Turf cutting will cease on 4% of the country's bogs between now and 2014, according to the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government.
Speaking at a Dáil committee, Mr Conor O' Reilly said that this represents 35,000 hectares from a total of 850,000 hectares.
He told the environment committee that one third of the designated area is already owned by the State.
He said that turf cutting by hand or by machine is incompatible with preservation on the bogs selected for conservation.
Turf cutting on some of these bogs is due to end this year, despite much protestation from owners of turbary rights and some public representatives.
