Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1325. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the awarding of compensation to those unable to avail of afforestation grants, owing to their participation in the hen harrier scheme. [38898/23]
View answerThe designation of lands as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for breeding Hen Harriers is a function exercised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with the EU Birds Directive.
My Department has not approved any afforestation projects that are located within such areas. Under the new Forestry Programme 2023-27, and in keeping with State Aid conditions, areas within any SPA – including the six designated for breeding Hen Harrier – will not be eligible for afforestation.
I would further clarify that proposed afforestation outside of these SPAs may also be ineligible, where the site in question contains suitable foraging habitat, the planting of which could create an adverse effect on breeding birds within the SPA. My Department must also consider the Current Distribution and Breeding Distribution of Hen Harrier, as recorded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
When assessing individual projects for afforestation within these areas, my Department considers the potential impacts on Hen Harrier that could arise, including the disturbance of breeding birds arising from certain operations (e.g. machine cultivation, the driving of fencing posts), and the conversion of open habitat suitable for foraging to forest cover, which may only prove useful for foraging during the limited pre-thicket stage. Where impacts can arise, my Department may exclude afforestation from certain parts of the project, or rule out the project in its entirety.
The question of compensation does not arise, and is not one that I am considering.
