Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on hedge cutting policy; if reform is planned in this area; if he will provide an update on current policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10594/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2010 prohibit the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife, from 1 March to 31 August. This is subject to certain specific exceptions, one of which permits these activities during the prohibited period on grounds of public health and safety, notably where road hazards may require hedge trimming or vegetation clearance.

Hedgerows and scrub are important as wildlife habitats and they need to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. Accordingly, I included a commitment in the National Biodiversity Plan 2011-2016 to review the overall policy in this area. The commitment is to review, in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, both hedgerow and scrub regulation with a view to producing guidelines to encourage best practice for hedgerow and scrub management for wildlife.