Hen Harrier hold-up continues

Farmers waiting for a Hen Harriers Threat Response Plan to learn how conservation of the bird will affect their lands will not know their fate for some time yet.

An Inter-Departmental Steering Group working on the Plan was established in July 2014 and has met eight times.

But officials of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs have yet to meet with other key Departments to finalise a draft of the plan, which will be followed by a public consultation, and then screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment.