IFA Criticises Delay in Hen Harrier Scheme

IFA National Hill Committee Chairman Pat Dunne has criticised the lack of progress in getting the Hen Harrier Scheme up and running. He said the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed must make movement on the scheme a priority as it is now six months since a project team was appointed to devise the scheme.

Pat Dunne said a significant amount of the €25m allocation to the Hen Harrier Locally-Led Scheme must benefit farmers and the scheme must address the restrictions that designations have on farmers’ land and the impact these designations have on farm incomes.

The Locally-Led Scheme is the last element of the 2014-2020 RDP to be implemented and farmers in hen harrier and other areas expect a scheme that is going to be meaningful and worthwhile.