Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2006
194 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will implement the SPA catchment areas for hen harrier protection areas; his views on the impact this will have on farmers particularly those whose forestry will be maturing and are intending on replanting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31444/06]
View answerUnder the EU Birds Directive, Ireland, like other Member States, is required to maintain the population of bird species, and to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for species which are identified in Annex 1 of the Directive, including the Hen Harrier.
In 2002, based on the then available information, a range of possible SPA catchments were identified for Hen Harriers in the State. Since then, my Department has thoroughly reviewed the research and information on the Hen Harrier, including the results of a second national survey in 2005. Based on this work a significant reduction in the number and extent of SPAs is now envisaged.
In general, it is not anticipated that the designation of a site for Hen Harriers will have effects on existing farming, existing forestry, or other ongoing activities. Neither should designation of a Hen Harrier SPA result in any restrictions on future rural housing development, on the intensification of grassland management nor on the reseeding of rough grass fields in the area.
The main activities likely to require regulation would be land reclamation/habitat destruction; commercial turf extraction; scrub, gorse or hedgerow removal; and too intensive use of off-road vehicles – other than by farmers.
Any proposed windfarm developments will continue to be assessed through the planning process and planning authorities will assess each proposal on a case-by-case basis. In that regard, I have published Guidelines for planning authorities on wind energy development. These Guidelines point out there is huge potential to avoid or reduce negative environmental impacts, including those on the natural heritage, in designing wind energy projects.
A Working Group of relevant interests both farming and forestry, the Forest Service and my Department has been established to develop a practical management regime for further forestry in the proposed Hen Harrier SPAs. Following completion of these discussions and final decisions on the designations, the proposed SPAs for the Hen Harrier will be notified to individual landowners and the normal appeal process will apply.
