Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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515. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person is permitted to burn off scrub land during the summer months if the purpose of the burn is to reclaim land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21587/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The burning of scrub during the summer months is not allowed. Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, growing vegetation cannot be burnt between 1st March and 31st August of any given year.

Where land has been burned between 1st March and 31st August, it is not in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation and therefore is not eligible for payment for the remainder of the year.

Please note that under the new land eligibility rules for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability scheme (BISS) and other CAP area-based schemes, up to 50% of the area of a parcel can contain Beneficial Features like scrub, rock, trees, woodland, habitats with no loss of payments to the farmer.