Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [51706/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The position with regard to the first application is that the area proposed for planting is located within a Special Protection Area (SPA) designated for the protection of the hen harrier. Given the restrictions that apply to planting and other developments within this area it has not proven possible to approve the application to plant. Any future afforestation within the SPA must take into account the results of recent Hen Harrier breeding and distribution surveys, the availability of suitable habitat and the effects of other cumulative developments on hen harrier populations e.g. wind farms. Discussions are ongoing between this Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the extent to which future planting, if any, may be approved within this area.

As regards the more recent application it is understood that part of this area also comes within the area designated for the protection of the hen harrier. This application is currently being processed and a decision will be given in due course.