Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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731. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when data was last gathered on the corncrake species in the Meenlaragh to Falcarragh special protection area in County Donegal; the number of reported sightings of the bird in the area according to these latest findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13332/15]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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732. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to review the current designation of the Meenlaragh to Falcarragh special protection area in County Donegal; to initiate a renewed public consultation process as part of any potential plans to review the designation; to amend the current restrictions on farming practices which are placed on landowners within the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13333/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 732 together.

A census of corncrakes was carried out in 2014 in all of the key areas for this species, including in the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special protection area . Two calling male corncrakes were recorded, indicating that there were two or more nesting pairs in the area.

The Court of Justice of the European Union made a judgement against Ireland in 2007 in case C-418/04, for failing to implement in full the EU Birds Directive. In a significant element of the judgement, the court found that Ireland had not designated sufficient special protection areas for the corncrake.

The Falcarragh to Meenlaragh area has long had a substantial population of this species and therefore was included in the special protection area network. However, the population has declined in recent years.

The intention to designate the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special protection area was advertised in July 2011. Landowners were advised that they could appeal against the proposed designation of the site as a special protection area. The appeals process has two stages: a Departmental review of an objection to the proposed designation, after which landowners who receive an adverse review may opt to take their cases to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board. This is an independently chaired Board which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, on such cases.

I have no plans to review the current designation of the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special protection area . However, the final boundary of the site may be amended as a result of the appeals process currently in train. In this regard, I understand that some 29 appeals remain to be dealt with. There are 25 appeals before the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board in relation to objections by landowners to the proposed boundary of the site. The Board has also recently submitted recommendations on 4 further appeals, which I intend to consider in the near future.

In view of the declining numbers of the corncrake, m y Department works with landowners, through schemes such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme and the Corncrake Grant Scheme, to incentivise them to manage and restore the corncrake population. The species is also included in measures under the GLAS scheme, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.