Written answers

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Hedge Cutting

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend the hedge cutting season in recognition of the recent level of rainfall. [12305/21]

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The dates for the cutting of hedges are set down in primary legislation. Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts Act prohibits the cutting of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. I do not have the discretion to extend this period into March.

There is provision in the legislation for certain exemptions in respect of cutting vegetation in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, for health and safety reasons, the destruction of noxious weeds and for cutting roadside hedges for road safety reasons.

As the dates are set out in primary legislation, I have no power or discretion to vary these dates. The season may only be extended by primary legislation enacted by the Oireachtas.

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