Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

718. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will change the policy that bans the cutting of hedges from March until September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37917/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 periods on grounds of public health and safety and this notably occurs where road hazards may require hedge trimming or vegetation clearance.

Hedgerows are an important reservoir of biodiversity and habitat for birds, insects, wild flowers and other wildlife during the summer breeding season. The purpose of these provisions is to protect bird life during the nesting season, to prevent forest fires, and to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction.

While hedgerows and scrub are important as wildlife habitats, they need to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. In that regard, my Department is reviewing the current legislative provisions. As part of that review, the potential for setting the relevant dates by statutory instrument, rather than in primary legislation, as is the position currently, will be examined.

Furthermore, I included a commitment in the National Biodiversity Plan 2011-2016 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.