Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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63. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding extending the spring gorse burning season; her views on the prospect of spring wildfires such as those that have threatened homes and native oak forests in Killarney National Park and many other areas in recent years; her plans for 2017 to reduce this risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3844/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, I announced proposals in December 2015 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 is included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which was published in January 2016. The Bill is currently at Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann. In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts remain in force.

Significant environmental damage is caused by wildfires. This issue has become more acute in recent years, as evidenced by the spate of fires in various parts of the country, including the 2015 fire in Co. Kerry.

The main source of such wildfires is thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the consequences. My Department is one of a number of agencies represented on the Inter-Agency Gorse Fire Group that explores issues surrounding such fires.  An Garda Síochána is also represented on the Group. My Department co-operates fully with Garda investigations and any other investigations that may be initiated by other statutory bodies. As the Deputy will appreciate, Killarney National Park on its own comprises over 10,000 Hectares (26,000 acres) so it can be difficult to provide a visible “presence” on the ground to discourage and prevent unauthorised burning in the countryside.  Trying to identify the culprits – those who deliberately set fires in open areas – can also be difficult.

Aside from such malicious activities, one of the main challenges is to encourage members of the public, (including landowners, farmers and recreational users of publicly accessible land), to act responsibly at all times, to be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, to be mindful of the need to protect property, both publicly owned and privately owned, and to appreciate the value of our natural heritage, particularly in our National Parks, Nature Reserves and Designated (Natura 2000) Sites.