Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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587. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of investigations that have taken place in the past ten years into illegal gorse fires and the illegal burning of uplands; the number of these investigations that have resulted in prosecutions with the relevant fines imposed on the offender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16224/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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This is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The burning of vegetation is controlled by the Wildlife Acts. It is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from 1st March to 31st August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated. Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. My Department has no role in regard to prosecutions.