Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
271. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers owning Natura and hen harrier designated lands are eligible to receive the payment of €79 per hectare per year for the private Natura sites on top of the hen harrier payment under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme and the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme+; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10291/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to say that both Natura and Hen Harrier lands are Priority Environmental Assets under the new GLAS scheme. This means that farmers who manage such assets will receive priority access to the scheme. Where Natura land is also identified as Hen Harrier habitat, the prescription laid down for the bird must be applied. This attracts a payment of €370 per hectare instead of the normal €79 per hectare rate for Natura. However, it is not the case that the Natura rate can then be claimed on top of the Hen Harrier payment.
