Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
1040. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details in tabular form by county of the numbers of offers of compensation offered to landowners where designation for hen harrier habitat protection prevented a landowner from carrying out an activity or a development on their lands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49710/14]
View answerA habitat enhancement scheme (known as the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme) was available to farmers in Hen Harrier SPAs to undertake proactive measures for the species. These measures were not a condition of the designation, nor were they mandatory. For that reason, they are not considered to be compensation for the prevention of an activity or a development on the lands in question.
Voluntary commitments were entered into by 377 landowners under the Farm Plan Scheme, covering over 9,000 hectares. I am advised that 105 farm plans are still active.
