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Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 December 2013

Thursday, 12 December 2013

Questions (121)

Michael Creed

Question:

121. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 5 December 2013, if he will confirm when the recent study of the hen harrier population in the Mullaghareirk and Boggeragh SPA was concluded; if he will outline the findings of this study in detail and the progress made to date in respect of the threat response plan; if he will identify the personnel involved from the various agencies and Departments in devising this threat response plan; the number of meetings held to date on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53487/13]

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Written answers

The process of formulating a Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 is under way. My Department has contracted a raptor specialist to undertake site and wider countryside risk assessments, informed by the identification of the current pressures and threats operating on the hen harrier population in Ireland. The specialist will also compile and analyse hen harrier related population and habitat data to help assist in our understanding of the ecological processes relating to the hen harrier. This work has been under way since the summer of this year. As the Deputy will appreciate, this kind of scientific analysis will take some time before it produces enough meaningful data for use to assist in the advancement of the process, such as allowing for the development of appropriate objectives for the Threat Response Plan.

Officials from my Department have already met with officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss the process. The next step will be to formally establish an Inter-Departmental Working Group. My officials will be in communication with other appropriate Departments to this end shortly. Initially, the Working Group will comprise officials from those Departments, but it may be extended to include other relevant public bodies.

According to the National Hen Harrier Survey carried out during 2010 and published in 2012, hen harrier numbers in the Stack’s to Mullaghareirk SPA have declined by more than 35% since the last national survey in 2005. This is contrary to the reported situation with the national population, where the total number of breeding birds recorded was broadly stable since the last national survey. However, it should be noted that the accuracy of these reported estimates of change are somewhat complicated due to increased survey effort during 2010 compared to the 2005 survey. The causes of the severe regional declines remain largely unknown, but potentially contributing factors are outlined in the survey report, including a deterioration of habitat availability and quality.

A research project concerning hen harrier in its upland breeding areas, known as PLANFORBIO, was completed in 2012. The full details of the findings of both studies can be accessed through the following links:

http://www.npws.ie/publications/irishwildlifemanuals/IWM59.pdf

http://www.ucc.ie/en/planforbio/projects/henharrier/

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