Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are measures in the new ACRE scheme for encouraging and rewarding the improvement of existing hedges and how they are managed, and keeping them at a higher height to encourage wildlife and bird life, in particular, to use them. There has been a whole step change in farmers' understanding of hedges and what they contribute. That is really important. Certainly, it is a long time since I have seen a hedge removed in County Donegal. I am seeing them being put back and restored increasingly. How we can encourage that further is something we should look at. The thresholds should be considered as part of the review that is ongoing. We will have a look at it. I think the thrust of what we are doing is very strong, as is the response. Farmers deserve recognition for the change in culture that we are seeing here.

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