Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications for forestry grants and premiums on special protection area protected lands, particularly hen harrier special protection areas lands, will be decided; the reason for the delay in making these decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9735/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Hen Harrier is one of Ireland's rarest species of bird, and is protected at a European level under the EU Birds Directive. In 2007 the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) classified 6 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Hen Harrier conservation. Hen Harriers breed in open moorland and heath/bog habitats but they will also nest in young pre-thicket forestry plantations prior to canopy closure. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently developing a Threat Response Plan (TRP) for the conservation of Hen Harriers. The TRP is focusing on a number of key pressures namely, agriculture intensification, forestry and windfarms. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a member of the interdepartmental Steering Group associated with the development of the TRP.

Since 2007, when the SPAs were designated, afforestation has been restricted within the SPAs, and since 2012 no afforestation projects have been granted approval. It is envisaged that the TRP will determine, inter alia, the circumstances in which afforestation, might be accommodated in Hen Harrier SPAs without impacting on the conservation of the species. In the circumstances, my Department is currently not in a position to grant approval for afforestation projects within the Hen Harrier SPAs.