Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the renewal of the derogation to allow farmers to burn hedgerow cuttings until a more sustainable and workable alternative can be put in place. [6515/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The burning of household, garden, commercial or industrial waste is prohibited under the Waste Management Regulations 2009. These regulations are under the remit of my colleague, Minister Eamonn Ryan TD. Provision by way of derogation has been available for the burning of permitted farm materials from 1st September to 28th February. This material includes untreated/uncontaminated hedgerow trimmings, leaves, bushes or similar materials generated by agricultural practices.

This exemption has been renewed on an ongoing basis since 2009 and most recently on 31^stDecember 2020 via statutory instrument (SI 738-2020). This regulation extended the derogation to 31^stDecember 2021.

I have engaged with Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan on this issue in recent days and am happy to report that Minister Ryan will be providing for a reinstatement of this derogation to allow farmers to continue to avail of this management tool.

My officials and I will continue to engage with Minister Ryan and his Department in terms of looking at future options for alternatives that may be possible in the years ahead.