Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on how farmers should dispose of cuttings from hedge trimming on their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9692/23]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I have a very simple question for the Minister of State. What are her views on how farmers should dispose of cuttings from hedge trimming on their lands. There have been some alterations to the rules. Perhaps she would enlighten me as to what farmers can do because there is a lot of confusion out there.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

This issue has been topical for a number of years. As the Deputy is aware, hedge trimming is a routine and essential management practice for farmers on their land. In light of this and in anticipation of the ending of the practice of burning as a method to dispose of cuttings or green waste, we commissioned a study to explore the management of this agricultural waste in Ireland.

A feasibility study to sustainable management of agricultural green waste in Ireland was conducted by the Irish BioEnergy Association and published at the end of 2022. The study identified a number of feasible alternative options to burning while sustainably managing this waste material. The report is available on the Department's website. In a survey that was conducted as part of this study, 38% of farmers said that they had considered alternative uses for the cut material before resorting to burning and the report states that farmers are open to considering alternatives to burning.

Based on the conclusions and recommendations in this study, the Irish BioEnergy Association has been asked to examine a range of measures to ensure that the appropriate communication, awareness-raising and knowledge-transfer measures are in place to support the agricultural sector in making a successful orderly transition to alternative sustainable management practices and to make recommendations in this regard. This work will support farmers to make the necessary changes to their farming practices for when the latest and last exemption to the Regulation for Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulation ends.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I seek clarification in light of the fact that farmers are reading various things and there is much confusion. How long more will the regulations allow for the burning of the trimmings?

The Minister of State referred to alternatives. I was at a meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight yesterday evening. One of the IFA representatives told us about a farmer in the south who was doing a good job with his cuttings. He was mulching them and creating fertiliser for the ground. He sold the surplus to his neighbouring farmers. It was great, except that he was told he had to cease, as it is was a commercial enterprise and it impacted on his grants and other such measures. In one way we are trying to do something and in another way we are trying to stop people from doing the same thing. There is significant confusion. The Department must clearly state what can be done and how long more the derogations will remain in place to allow burning to happen.

In the event that we include alternatives, how will the cost of doing so be recovered by farmers, who are at the pin of their collars trying to make a living?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

An exemption under the legislation, which in the past allowed farmers to dispose of waste generated by agricultural practices by burning as a last resort, has been extended for a number of years. It was never intended that this exemption would be extended indefinitely. The exemption for the practice of cut agricultural green waste was due to end on 1 January last, but regulations were signed on 27 January for an extension of the exemption. The regulations extended the exemption for the burning of agricultural green waste until 1 March. It will then reopen for a final three-month period, from 1 September to 30 November, to allow the agricultural sector to deal with waste accumulated in the interim. The decision to extend this exemption for one final time arose from the recommendations made in that recent study. The study notes that a number of feasible alternatives are available for farmers to manage their waste material sustainably.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for the clarity regarding the derogation. Do we have sight of what the proposals are and how they will be implemented? Will there be a cost implication for farmers arising from these methods? If so, how will farmers be supported in carrying out the disposal under the green measures the Minister of State is proposing?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

The report of the study is available on the Department's website. We have asked the Irish BioEnergy Association to examine a range of measures, which could end up being very wide. In fact, on our own farm, we ended up pushing the material into a corner and leaving it there because there is energy to suggest that sort of material and green waste will sit there and potentially provide a habitat for small birds and animals. Many farmers would like to do more on their farms, however, and that is just one example. From a bioenergy perspective, there could be options. The Deputy's point about this not costing the farmer further is good. Whatever suggestions we come up with should not prove costly for the farmer.