Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 November 2014
27. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the discussions that he has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to those landowners whose lands have been designated for the protection of the hen harrier habitat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42796/14]
View answerMy colleague, Minister of State Tom Hayes TD, previously met with Minister Deenihan and, more recently, with Minister Humphreys, in relation to the impact the designations are having on the forestry sector and on farmers generally. This is also the subject of ongoing interaction between officials from my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently developing a Threat Response Plan (TRP) for Hen Harrier, which is one of Ireland's rarest species of bird, and which is protected at a European level under the EU Birds Directive. As part of this process, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has established an inter-Departmental Steering Group, incorporating representatives from key Departments, to assist in the development of the Plan. The TRP is examining the impacts of various activities including forest development, agricultural intensification and wind farm development on the conservation of the species.
I understand that the TRP will set out necessary measures for implementation within each of the three sectors, to protect and conserve Hen Harrier, and in doing so, will bring clarity to farmers and other landowners about future land management activities within the SPAs.
In relation to forestry, it is envisaged that the TRP will determine, inter alia, the circumstances in which afforestation might be accommodated in Hen Harrier SPAs without impacting on the conservation of the species. In the meantime, my Department is not in a position to grant approval for any afforestation projects in those areas until, as part of the TRP, an integrated series of measures across all three land uses has been identified to protect the species. It should be noted that large areas within the SPAs include unimproved semi-natural heath and bog habitats which are generally not eligible for afforestation grants.
I also understand that the inter-Departmental Steering Group is in the process of establishing a Consultative Committee, comprising of relevant representatives from the forestry, agriculture and wind farm sectors as well as NGO’s and the wider stakeholder community, to contribute to the formulation of the Plan.
