My Department utilised the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which is a database of claimants under the Single Payment Scheme supplied by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, for the identification and notification of possible landowners and users in the nine Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas (SPAs) advertised in November 2007. These nine SPA sites covered six counties and, where an individual had land in more than one site, this led to a duplication which altered the figures slightly. The figures in the following table indicate the total numbers of individuals notified, with a breakdown by site and county, as well as the adjusted figure where duplication has been identified.
Code
|
Site name
|
Counties
|
Landowners
|
4160
|
SLIEVE BLOOM MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Laois
|
288
|
|
|
Offaly
|
137
|
|
|
|
425
|
|
|
|
|
4161
|
STACK'S TO MULLAGHAREIRK MOUNTAINS, WEST
|
Cork
|
380
|
|
LIMERICK HILLS AND MOUNT EAGLE SPA
|
Kerry
|
641
|
|
|
Limerick
|
687
|
|
|
|
1,708
|
|
|
|
|
4162
|
MULLAGHANISH TO MUSHERAMORE MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Cork
|
154
|
|
|
|
|
4165
|
SLIEVEFELIM TO SILVERMINES MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Limerick
|
121
|
|
|
Tipperary
|
348
|
|
|
|
469
|
|
|
|
|
4167
|
SLIEVE BEAGH SPA
|
Monaghan
|
82
|
|
|
|
|
4168
|
SLIEVE AUGHTY MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Clare
|
599
|
|
|
Galway
|
723
|
|
|
|
1,322
|
|
|
|
|
|
(excluding duplicates 3,905)
|
Total
|
4,160
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4163
|
NAGLES MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Cork
|
288
|
|
|
|
|
4164
|
BALLYHOURA MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Cork
|
109
|
|
|
Limerick
|
166
|
|
|
|
275
|
|
|
|
|
4166
|
KILWORTH MOUNTAINS SPA
|
Cork
|
73
|
|
|
Tipperary
|
12
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
(excluding duplicates 605)
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
648
|
|
|
|
|
My Department has administered a small-scale farm plan scheme using Exchequer funds, which has supported farmers in adopting appropriate management practices in the Hen Harrier SPAs. Due to budgetary constraints, the scheme is now closed to new applicants. The number of participants who are currently in receipt of payments under the farm plan scheme for the Hen Harrier is set out in the following table.
County
|
Number of Participants
|
Clare
|
85
|
Cork
|
50
|
Galway
|
30
|
Kerry
|
58
|
Laois
|
6
|
Limerick
|
95
|
Monaghan
|
10
|
Tipperary
|
32
|
|
|
Total
|
366
|
Payments under the farm plan scheme are based on eligible lands located within one of the Hen Harrier SPAs and those lands must be managed in accordance with the Hen Harrier prescription. Payments are made at the following rates:
- Eligible areas up to 40 hectares are paid at a rate of €350 per hectare.
- Eligible areas from 40 hectares to 120 hectares are paid at a rate of €25 per hectare.
- Eligible areas in excess of 120 hectares are paid at a rate of €5 per hectare.
The minimum amount received by a participant in the scheme was €293, while the maximum amount received was €16,054. The average payment per participant in the scheme is €7,801.