Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2015
126. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the special arrangements put in place under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme for farmers farming land designated as a special protection area in order to preserve the hen harrier; the maximum amount of hectares they can receive under the scheme or GLAS+; the maximum payments to which they will be entitled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9737/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGLAS will be the main source of support under my Department for farmers with Hen Harrier habitat on their holding. Hen Harrier land is a Tier One Priority Environmental Asset and any farmer with identified habitat will secure priority access to the scheme.
The payment rate for Hen Harrier is €370 per hectare, and all identified land must be brought into GLAS. While the maximum annual payment to any farmer under GLAS is €5,000, I have decided that Hen Harrier farmers will automatically qualify for GLAS+, without the normal requirement for a second Priority Environmental Asset. This allows the total annual payment to increase to as much as €7,000, if the farmer manages 19 hectares or more of Hen Harrier habitat.
