Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration has been given to providing flexibility on the deadline for hedge management activities, given challenging weather conditions in recent weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7834/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.

The dates for the cutting of hedges are set down in primary legislation. Section 40 of the Wildlife Act prohibits the cutting of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August.

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.