Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
919. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to reintroduce a programme to ensure the development of habitats for the hen harrier, in co-operation with landowners, and to pay landholders for their input into this work, in order to ensure the protection and propagation of this breed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23230/15]
View answerExtensive and traditional farming is a key element in supporting the long-term conservation of the Hen Harrier, both in the SPAs designated for that species and also in other important areas which are not designated.
It is essential, in my view, that, wherever possible, use is made of opportunities for co-funding from the EU in providing payments to farmers who own lands subject to designations or where conservation measures would be useful. Therefore, while my Department has the lead role in the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directive, and operated a programme for farmers in these areas in the past, significant funding is now provided through the Rural Development Programme (run by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine). The new national agri-environment scheme, GLAS, will provide significant supports for Hen Harrier within the SPAs and in important breeding areas outside the SPAs. In addition, I understand that GLAS+ will be available to farmers who have large farm holdings within these priority areas for Hen Harrier.
I am aware that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine intends to bring forward plans for a separate locally led measure under the Rural Development Programme in the near future and that the Hen Harrier has been identified as requiring further focus under this measure. I am supportive of this initiative, and staff of my Department will be available to assist the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in this regard, as required.
