Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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737. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the stage and details of provisions of proposed legislation governing hedge cutting; the way the interests of farmers will be protected in line with wildlife; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20040/17]

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 recently completed its passage through Seanad Éireann and will now go to Dail Éireann.  In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts remain in force.