Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1547. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure the protection of hedgerow habitats. [12757/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Hedgerows are a valuable resource on Irish farms, contributing to both our biodiversity and climate ambitions. There is an estimated 689,000 kms of hedgerows in the country.

My Department recognises the value of these hedgerows in a number of ways including through rewarding farmers under the ECO-scheme element of the new Common Agriculture Programme (CAP) Strategic Plan. Under this support, farmers are eligible for payment in respect of ‘space for nature’ with a significant focus on farm hedgerows.

The new CAP also provides additional protection for hedges, where a farmer is in receipt of Direct Payment supports. Removal of hedgerows is only permitted in certain exceptional circumstances for example, road safety or to accommodate a building extension and it is now a mandatory requirement that a length equivalent to twice that removed, is planted in advance of any removal.

Under the recent Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) scheme, over 1,100 km of new hedgerows were planted since the scheme began in 2015. Other actions in GLAS included traditional maintenance of hedgerows which improve their value as a habitat for biodiversity. These voluntary measures of hedgerow planting and traditional maintenance are also available in the new ACRES scheme.

In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations require screening, and if necessary consent, prior to removal of a hedgerow where the length of hedgerow to be removed exceeds 500 metres or where the field size following removal of the hedgerow will be greater than 5 hectares. If the proposed removal would breach either of these thresholds the farmer is required to submit a screening application to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

It is my intention to review the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations and will commence a consultation on this process with all stakeholders in the near future.