Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to strengthen enforcement regarding areas prone to gorse fire; her views on whether at present there are adequate fines and consequences for persons that start these fires; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27356/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. 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 a Coillte owned site of some 4,000 hectares Co. Galway in recent weeks.

Wild fires are not a natural phenomenon in Ireland and can have a local impact on species that cannot escape, or that lose breeding habitat as a result. Such impacts are generally fairly short term, but could be very serious for species that are already in decline, such as curlew. Some plant and moss species may be lost or greatly reduced.UK research showed that where scrub such as gorse is burned it can have a lasting impact on soils and cause increased erosion which can in turn impact on rivers through increasing siltation of the water, especially if this burning happens repeatedly.

I would like to take this opportunity to strongly condemn the recent spate of wildfires and would appeal to members of the public to be conscious of the dangers posed by fire on open ground. The primary responsibility in terms of fire-fighting lies with the Fire Service and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. The prosecution of those responsible is a matter for the Gardaí. 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 and leads any criminal investigation. My Department, of course, cooperates fully with Garda investigations and any other investigations that may be initiated by other statutory bodies.