Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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2475. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who purchases land that was previously in the hen harrier scheme can now qualify for entry into the hen harrier scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18826/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Hen Harrier Programme is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Hen Harrier Project team. €25 million has been allocated by my Department to this project under the RDP.

If a person purchased land in one of the SPAs designated for breeding Hen Harrier, they are eligible for the programme subject to the land having been declared by them on their Basic Payment Scheme application.

Almost 1,600 farmers are now participating in the Hen Harrier Programme. A decision will be made shortly by the Project Team on whether available funding will support additional participants. Pending that decision, a person who is interested in joining the Hen Harrier Programme should send an Expression of Interest Form to the Hen Harrier Project Office. This form is available on the Hen Harrier Project website (www.henharrierproject.ie). It can also be obtained from approved farm advisors or by contacting the project team.