Written answers

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Gorse Burning

Photo of Peter FitzpatrickPeter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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182. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ensure that clearing land is affordable to landowners and farmers in view of the ban on farmers burning overgrown land and gorse bushes; if he plans to review the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5834/22]

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason licences in County Tipperary have been revoked for the burning of bushes and rushes and instead those holding licences and farmers are being informed that they have to shred such matter thus incurring considerable cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5945/22]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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204. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he sought a derogation with regard to the burning of agricultural waste in 2022; if so, the result of such a request; when the result of the request was communicated to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6660/22]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 190 and 204 together.I propose to take questions 182, 190 and 204 together

Under the Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009, the burning of household, garden, commercial or industrial waste is not permitted.

Previously, an exemption under the legislation had been provided for the burning of green waste generated by agricultural purposes. The burning of green waste is a matter of concern and leads to localised air pollution. More broadly, health problems associated with air pollution are widely known and acknowledged.

The sunset clause in the Regulations, whereby the granting of exemptions would come to a definite end at a specified time, has been extended on four different occasions in the past. It was not envisaged that the exemption would continue indefinitely. The most recent exemption, under the legislation, expired on the 1stJanuary, 2022.

I will introduce regulations to extend the exemption until 1stJanuary 2023 in the coming days. I anticipate this will be the final extension. Discussions between officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will commence – to examine alternative options to the practice of burning of this waste.

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