Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1405. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is intended to introduce the promised so-called hen harrier scheme for farmers whose land is designated for the hen harrier; the amount of money that will be payable to farmers each year under the scheme; the length of the scheme; the terms of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41882/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

 In the first instance, I should say that I have  already provided for a significant framework of support for farmers with hen-harrier designated land through GLAS. Farmers with land identified as important for the hen-harrier are guaranteed access to the scheme as priority candidates in Tier One of GLAS. I have also provided that such farmers will be automatically approved for GLAS Plus should they be farming sufficient area of habitat. Under GLAS, farmers qualify for a payment rate of €370 per hectare and can earn up to €7,000 per annum through a combination of GLAS and GLAS Plus payments. Over 2,100 farmers have been accepted into GLAS 1 & GLAS 2 with a hen-harrier action and this number will increase significantly once the approvals for GLAS 3 have been finalised.

My Department is currently in the process of introducing  important new schemes under the locally-led umbrella, for the conservation of the hen harrier and freshwater pearl mussel. I have provided a total budget of €35 million for these two schemes. Part of this process requires the recruitment, by public tender, of a Project Team to help develop and deliver these schemes on behalf of my Department, following a similar model to the highly successful Burren farming conservation measure. The closing date for the tender is 24 January 2017 and I would expect that the successful tenderer will be offered a contract before the end of February.

The successful tenderer will be directly involved in drawing up the terms and conditions for the schemes, along with the range of actions to be applied and associated payments. This will be done in consultation with officials from my Department and from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, as well as drawing on local knowledge and inputs from farmers on the ground. Once this stage has been completed, the process of recruiting farmers for a five year scheme will commence.