Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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957. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of the concerns raised by Bird Watch Ireland regarding her decision on 23 December 2015 to allow greater flexibility in the cutting and burning of hedgerows in the months of March and August; the safeguards that will be in place for any hedgerow cutting and burning in these months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1125/16]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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959. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to reverse changes made to hedge cutting and scrub burning dates (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1132/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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961. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rationale behind the changes to the hedge cutting and scrub burning dates announced on 23 December 2015, the groups she or her Department met with when considering this change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1238/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 957, 959 and 961 together.

Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife.

Following a review of section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, including from BirdWatch Ireland, I recently announced proposals to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning at certain times within the existing closed period on a pilot two year basis. The legislation required to allow for these pilot measures has been included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which has just been published. I have on occasion met with stakeholders on a range of issues, many of whom availed of the opportunity of re-iterating views expressed in their submissions in response to the public consultation.

The existing provisions relating to section 40 of the Wildlife Acts are still in operation and any changes to the closed period are dependent on the passage of the Heritage Bill 2016 through the Oireachtas.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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958. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will have research conducted into the nesting times of birds here; if she is aware that many species of birds, such as Yellowhammers which are a conservation concern, have nesting times outside the existing months where restrictions on cutting and burning hedgerows exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1126/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is my intention that by amending the Wildlife Acts, managed hedge cutting can be allowed under strict criteria during August to help ensure that issues such as overgrown hedges can be tackled. This is a matter of genuine concern to rural dwellers and farmers.I am keenly aware that we must ensure that this should not impact upon our populations of wild birds, including yellowhammers and many other species. For that reason, any such cutting will be subject to conditions and restrictions which will be specified in regulations in relation to hedgerow husbandry, management or maintenance to protect fauna or flora.

In addition, my Department will monitor activity under the proposed new provision, and an assessment of the impacts will be carried out before any decision is taken on continuing this measure beyond the pilot phase. In that context, my Department will work towards gathering the data required to underpin such a decision. This will include data in regard to bird nesting, and the level and impact of cutting.

The existing provisions of section 40 of the Wildlife Acts relating to the closed period for hedge cutting are still in operation and any changes to the closed period are dependent on the passage of the Heritage Bill 2016 through the Oireachtas.