Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when forestry planting applications in SPAs will be processed and approved; if he considers the delays in this matter reasonable or fair; the action he has taken to expedite this matter with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55346/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The processing of applications for afforestation in areas designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) is ongoing and includes, as required under the regulations governing approval of such projects, consultations with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

It is not possible at present to approve afforestation projects located within Special Protection Areas designated for the protection of the hen harrier, a threatened bird of prey. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have commenced the development of a Threat Response Plan (TRP) covering various land uses including agriculture, forestry and windfarms, for the conservation of the hen harrier. The Plan is expected to take approximately two years to complete. Forestry will form a significant component of the TRP, and my Department is liaising closely with the NPWS in the formulation of the Plan 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.

My Department is aware that the development of the TRP will lead with the forestry component. Once this work is completed, this may create an opportunity for the issuing of afforestation approvals in hen harrier SPAs, prior to the completion of the overall Plan.