Hen harrier project manager Fergal Monaghan told the Irish Farmers Journal that his team had sent draft terms and conditions for the scheme to the Department of Agriculture. Officials will now check it for compliance with regulations before applications can open.

“The plan is still to open applications in early December,” Monaghan said.

He added that development work with partner farmers and public meetings in recent months had confirmed a structure similar to that operating in the Burren Scheme, with payments to recognise the quality of hen harrier habitats on farms and to incentivise farmers to improve on those habitats.

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Watch: new Hen Harrier Scheme being developed on farms