Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person removes vegetation the reason that they must replant same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48477/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In 2009 hedgerows, trees in a line, drains and ditches were designated as landscape features, deeming them eligible for payment under the Direct Payments Schemes and as a result of the designation they cannot be removed and must be retained and maintained. However in exceptional circumstances, landscape features may be removed only if a replacement hedge, line of trees, drain is planted/dug in advance of the removal and is of similar length to the feature removed. You can only replace like with like, for example if a hedge is removed a hedge must be replanted at another location on the holding and the species used must be traditional to the area and the replacement landscape feature cannot be for amenity purposes, e.g. around farmyard or driveway.

Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in a cross compliance sanction being applied under Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) 7. The Explanatory Handbook for Cross Compliance Requirements detailing all of the requirements for cross compliance issued to all farmers in November 2016.