Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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483. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria that determines eligibility for the new environmental scheme for farmers with designated land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23233/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Hen Harrier Programme is a locally-led pilot project under the European Innovation Partnerships measure of the Rural Development Programme, and is not directly administered by my Department. The design and management of the project are primarily matters for the local project team, who have consulted widely with farmers in designated areas in the development of the measures to be undertaken on the ground and associated payments.

The Eligibility criteria are set out in the Terms & Conditions of the programme and are listed below:

To be eligible for the Hen Harrier Programme applicants must be:

- 18 years or over on the date an expression of interest is received by the Hen Harrier Project Team.

- An Active farmer - the applicant must have submitted a current application for the Basic Payments Scheme which includes a declaration of all lands farmed. This is required in each year of the participant's contract.

- Farming at least one parcel containing qualifying lands within or partially within a Hen Harrier designated SPA.

The Terms & Conditions can be obtained from the Hen Harrier project team and are also available on their website www.henharrierproject.ie.