Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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233. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the interdepartmental steering group established by her Department to help in developing a threat response plan for the hen harrier was set up; when the group is expected to issue its recommendations, particularly on wind farms and afforestation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35063/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Inter-Departmental Steering Group convened was convened in July 2014. The Group is examining all of the issues at hand, including forestry, wind farms and financial supports for farmers, with a view to determining the appropriate course of further action. Additionally, a Consultative Committee compromising of representatives from relevant sectors was set up. The Steering Group has met on five occasions to date and the Consultative Committee met three times. It was agreed by all parties on the Consultative Committee that the results of the 2015 Hen Harrier survey should be incorporated into the Plan. The survey work has recently been concluded and the results are presently being compiled. It is expected that the final survey data will be available later this month. At that point, the Steering Group and Consultative Committee will reconvene to continue development towards the first draft of the Plan.