Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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502. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position with respect to TRPs on the hen harrier; when he expects to be in a position to conclusively deal with the issue of forestry applications in hen harrier SPAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29339/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The development of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan is being led by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DAHRRGA) with input from other key Departments including my Department.  In July 2014 the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs established an inter-Departmental Steering Group, incorporating representatives from key Departments to assist in the development of the Plan.  A Stakeholder Consultative Committee has also been established to assist in drafting the Threat Response Plan; this group is chaired by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and includes representatives from the forestry, agriculture and wind farm sectors. The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine is represented on both the Steering Group and the Stakeholder Consultative Committee.

The Inter-Departmental Steering Group has now met on eight occasions. The main issues regarding land uses (Wind farming, Forestry and Agriculture) and the recovery of the Hen Harrier population have been investigated and discussed by the Steering Group and with the Stakeholder Consultative Committee.  We understand from DAHRRGA that officials at that Department will meet bilaterally and as a group with the key Departments over the coming weeks to finalise a draft of the Threat Response Plan, which will then undergo a public consultation and screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment.  We understand that this draft will be ready by year end and will address the issue of afforestation in Hen Harrier SPAs and other matters.