Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide urgent clarity regarding the ending of the cutting season (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8945/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The dates for the cutting of vegetation and hedges are set down in primary legislation. Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 prohibits the cutting of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. As the dates are set out in primary legislation, I have no power or discretion to vary them. The dates may only be altered by primary legislation enacted by the Oireachtas.

There is provision in the legislation for certain limited 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.

I would draw attention to section 40 (2) (g) of the Wildlife Act which disapplies the closed season in relation to "the felling, cutting, lopping, trimming or removal of a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation pursuant to section 70 of the Roads Act 1993".