Collins calls for hen harrier farmer representation on new steering group

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Áine Collins, has urged the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD to consider including a member of the Irish Farmers with Designated Land (IFDL) to be included on a new steering group to formulate a threat response plan for hen harriers.
“I have urged Minister Humphreys to consider including a member of the IFDL on the new steering group for the formulation of a threat response plan for hen harriers. It has been confirmed that a member of the Special Protection Areas (SPA) will be on the group and I am hopeful that the Minister will accept my request to include a member of the IFDL group on the steering committee to represent farmers whose lands have been designated for the protection of hen harriers.
“It is very important to include the IFDL in the threat response plan and to give its members a say at the steering group.
“The question of the hen harrier is one that affects my part of the world in Cork North-West and in particular the areas of Rockchapel, Newmarket, Ballydesmond, east Limerick, and up to Clare and Galway. The issue has lingered since the previous administration was in office in 2007 when it was agreed that the hen harrier would become a protected species.
“Since then, 80,000 hectares of land has been designated for the protection of the hen harrier. There are 3,854 families affected and the farmers involved can only farm their land to a certain capacity. They cannot build wind farms and they cannot develop forestry. Their land is of pretty much no value today.
“Of the 3,054 farmers, approximately 400 received compensation while the rest currently receive none. It has been confirmed that under the GLAS programme hen harrier farmers will receive a maximum of €7,000 but in my opinion this is still not enough. I agree with farmers who say their land now has no value.
“Farmers I have spoken to have told me that the hen harrier originated in Waterford yet there are no designated lands in Kilkenny, the Golden Vale, or eastern Cork which are some of the areas with better land. Farmers with designated lands are taking the burden for all the other farmers in Ireland to deal with the issue in regard to the hen harrier.
“They deserve compensation over a 15 year period in lieu of growing forestry. A constituent approached me recently who has land in Rockchapel. He wanted to sell 5 acres to help his son buy a house in Cork but found when he went to sell the land that it was hen harrier designated and had no value. Even though there was forestry on both sides of him owned by two different farmers, he could not grow forestry on his land. He is quite happy for his land to be redesignated if that is possible, but in the alternative he believes farmers need compensation.”