Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the fact that many small farmers in western Duhallow are suffering serious loss of income as most of the area is a designated special area of conservation, they cannot plant trees, put up wind turbines or draw hen harrier subsidies as this scheme is closed; the way this issue can be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20626/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The area to which the Deputy refers is the Stacks to Mullaghareirk Mountains, West Limerick Hills, and Mount Eagle Special Protection Area, designated in S.I. No. 591 of 2012.

The development of wind farms requires planning permission under the Planning and Development Acts and approval from the Commission of Energy Regulation. Afforestation is subject to approval by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The public authorities concerned are responsible for making their decisions in compliance with applicable EU and national law, including the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.

The European Commission has expressed concerns regarding compliance with the requirements of EU law in regard to afforestation and the development of wind-farms in these sites and survey data from 2010 has shown an overall decrease in the numbers of breeding hen harriers in the six SPAs designated for the protection of the species. Forestry, agricultural practice and wind-farm development are the principal pressures on the species.

In response to these developments, my Department is formulating a hen harrier threat response plan under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, and, in that context, is working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explore possible ways forward that can meet the requirements of the EU directives and allow for ongoing forest management and afforestation in a structure way. It will also consider the requirement for appropriate agri-environment supports to farmers under the Rural Development Programme, to assist them in meeting the demands of farming within the SPA.

Because of the unavailability of resources, my Department has been unable, since 2010, to offer new applicants access to the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Hen Harrier Farm Plan Scheme. It should be noted that the principal source of EU and State funds intended for the support of farmers in Natura 2000 sites generally is the Rural Development Fund, which is administered by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.