Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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520. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in County Tipperary that have applied for the hen harrier scheme; the number that have been paid; the maximum and average payment made, respectively; his plans to take more farmers into the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6274/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Hen Harrier Programme is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Hen Harrier Project team. The information below has been sourced from them.

The number of farmers with Tipperary herd numbers who have applied to join the Hen Harrier Programme is 129.

The number under contract is 59; 51 of those have been paid and the remaining eight will receive their payment shortly.

The maximum amount paid out was €8,216.30 and the average amount paid out was €3,045.52.

These payments represent the habitat component only of the Hen Harrier Programme; further payments will be made in respect of the Hen Harrier Programme next month. Participants are currently applying for the Supporting Actions payment which will be paid in the Autumn. All of these payments are in addition to GLAS Hen Harrier payments where applicable.

The Hen Harrier Team have resumed their selection process of participants and a further 17 applicants with Tipperary herd numbers were selected in January 2019. Further selections will be made in February, March and April 2019.