Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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931. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry planting grant and forestry premium applications in the Sliabh Aughty area due to the ongoing discussions and investigations of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the possible effect of forestry planting on the population of hen harriers in this region; when it is likely that his Department will be in a position to issue a decision on these applications; if compensation will be paid to the applicants for the loss of income caused by the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46579/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are a total of 28 applications under the afforestation schemes in the Slieve Aughty area which cannot be approved because they are located within a Special Protection Area (SPA) designated for the protection of the hen harrier.

The implementation of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, under which Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated, is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht are commencing the development of a Threat Response Plan (TRP) for the conservation of the hen harrier. The plan is expected to take approximately two years to complete and forestry will form a significant element of the Plan. The Forest Service will be liaising closely with the NPWS in the formulation of the TRP on aspects relating to afforestation, felling and replanting. It is also understood that the NPWS will engage in a formal public consultation process in relation to the Plan, which it will announce at the appropriate time.

As development of the TRP progresses, and in advance of its completion, opportunities may arise – possibly in late 2014 - to pursue an interim arrangement to allow for the limited issuing of afforestation approvals in some hen harrier SPAs. Until then, the Forest Service will not be in a position to approve any afforestation projects within these SPAs. My Department does not provide compensation for the consequences of such designations.