Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to bring forward to 1 August 2015 the start date to enable hedge cutting and burning of scrub to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25194/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is provision in the regulations determining the times for hedge cutting and burning of scrub to enable specific derogations for such work to be undertaken outside those specific periods, where farmers may need to carry out such preparatory work to enable drainage and land reclamation work to be undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25195/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.

Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. There is provision in section 40(2) for some strict exemptions from the prohibition during the closed period.

Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. As a result, a review of section 40 was initiated to ensure that it remains both effective and balanced.

Stakeholders had been seeking an opportunity to input their views on the operation of section 40 and I announced, last year, a consultation process which provided that opportunity, with a deadline of 9 January 2015 for the receipt of submissions. The submissions received have been published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at .

Following the end of the public consultation period, I established a Working Group, consisting of officials from my Department, to consider the submissions received and to report back to me with a range of proposals. I expect to announce the outcome of the review in the near future.

Any changes to the closed period for cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, as provided for in section 40 of the Wildlife Acts, would require amending legislation.