Public debate for hen harrier zones

A FULL public consultation process will be undertaken wherever sites are proposed for designation as hen harrier Special Protection Areas (SPAs), said Junior Environment Minister Batt O’Keeffe, when he recently announced that preparatory scientific work to confirm the suitability of possible sites and to define their boundaries is under way.

He said it is hoped to publish site proposals by the end of the year.

According to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the hen harrier is one of Ireland’s rarest birds of prey, and the breeding population is mainly found in the Mullagharierk Mountains, the Boggeraghs, Ballyhouras, Nagles and Kilworth Mountains of the south-west.