Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the policy proposal to issue afforestation licences for SACs and SPAs as the lead authority for forestry licences; if he has had discussions in this regard at EU level and or with the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on same; and the number of such meetings in 2017 and to date 2018 on this issue. [41680/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The overall aim of the European Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) is to maintain or restore the favourable conservation status of habitats and species which are threatened throughout Europe and deemed highly sensitive to change. These habitats and species are listed in the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC). Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) – also known as Natura sites – are designated to afford protection to the most vulnerable of these habitats and species. As such, SACs and SPAs are a key component in the protection of rare and endangered habitats and species, both in Ireland and at a European and international level.

One of the key protective measures under this European legislation is the requirement under Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive to apply an appropriate assessment procedure, to consider any possible impact on the conservation objectives of a Natura site that might arise from a plan or project, before a decision is taken whether or not to allow that plan or project to proceed. The application of appropriate assessment in Ireland is governed by the European Communities (Birds & Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477 of 2011).

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is listed as a 'public authority' under these Regulations. Therefore, this Department is required to carry out a screening for Appropriate Assessment, and the Appropriate Assessment itself, if deemed necessary, in relation to all licence applications for afforestation in these areas.

With regard to Hen Harrier SPAs the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is currently developing a Threat Response Plan (TRP) for the conservation of Hen Harriers. Forestry will form an element of the Plan and my Department is working closely with NPWS on issues concerning forestry in Hen Harrier SPAs. Until the Threat Response Plan is completed, my Department will not be in a position to approve afforestation projects within the SPAs.

Officials from DAFM and the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht met and held discussions on an ad hocbasis approximately 10 times throughout 2017 and 2018, including on the sidelines of other meetings. These meetings would have largely centred on progress regarding the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan and the draft Forests & Freshwater Pearl Mussel Plan. The issue of afforestation would have arisen during discussions in many of these, given the strong overlap of both initiatives with Natura sites

Three formal meetings are relevant:

- The DG Environment, European Commission, Irish Package Meeting, held in the Customs House, Dublin, 28 February 2018, which contained an agenda item on the draft Forests & Freshwater Pearl Mussel Plan.

- Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan Inter-Departmental Steering Group Meeting, held at the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Ely Place, Dublin, 8^thMay 2018.

- Hen Harrier TRP Consultative Committee, also held at the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Ely Place, Dublin, 8^thMay 2018.

Again, all three meetings would have included (inter alia) discussions regarding afforestation within Natura sites.