Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount which has been allocated for payment to persons under the latest hen harrier scheme in each of the years 2014 to 2016 in tabular form; the projections for 2017 and 2018; the way in which the funding will be spent; and when persons will receive payment. [24208/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In referring to ‘the latest hen harrier scheme’, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the Locally-Led Scheme for the Conservation of the Hen Harrier under the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020.  The design work for this scheme has just commenced, with the appointment of a locally led Project Team a few weeks ago.  The scheme was not in existence before that, or for the years referred to by the Deputy.

While there is still a lot of work to undertake, including definition of the actions to be undertaken, I do envisage that the first farmers will join the hen harrier locally led scheme in 2017.  Unlike other schemes, the new hen harrier scheme will not be tied to calendar years and this provides for greater flexibility in both recruitment and payment.  At this point in time I have no firm projections for payments in relation to 2017 or 2018 - this is something the Project Team will be examining and will advise my Department in due course.

However, I would also like to point out that a significant framework of support for farmers with hen harrier designated land is already in place through my Department's agri-environment scheme GLAS.  Under GLAS, farmers with hen harrier habitat qualify for a payment of €370 per hectare and can earn up to €7,000 per annum through a combination of GLAS and GLAS Plus payments.  The GLAS Hen Harrier action has proved hugely successful, with some 3,500 farmers now signed up. This accounts for almost 90% of all farmers with hen harrier habitat and represents a major step forward in the conservation of the bird and in securing important additional income for the farmers concerned.