318 Deputy John Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has been deemed to be ineligible to qualify under the hen harrier farm plan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46640/09]

In order to be considered for acceptance into the National Parks and Wildlife Service Hen Harrier Farm Plan Scheme, farmers and landowners/occupiers must have been actively farming stock for a minimum of two years in a designated hen harrier Special Protection Area (SPA). I understand that the person in question has not been farming stock in the SPA for the requisite period and therefore does not qualify for entry into the Scheme.