Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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950. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a best practice guide for dealing with wild fires; if there is an obligation on a land owner to clear gorse that presents a risk of wildfire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48186/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Ireland is not immune from wildfire risks and current actions on fire undertaken by my Department are aligned with best international practice for Fire Management, including FAO/UN Voluntary Fire Management Guidance, Emergency Management frameworks, and European Union Fire Management frameworks.

My Department supports a number European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects aimed at supporting sustainable upland management across all of Irelands upland areas. The Department also provides guidance to land owners at www.gov.ie/en/publication/01773-fire-management/. Where unmanaged lands with high fire risk are a concern, under Section 14 of the Forestry Act 2014, where the Minister is satisfied that there is a risk to forests arising from uncultivated land, the Minister may direct that the vegetation be removed or destroyed in such manner and within such time as the Minister may specify.

Homeowners and other property owners should remove dangerous vegetation and fuels in proximity to buildings and other assets, to protect their properties from fire and to do so in cooperation with neighbouring landowners where necessary. BE FIREWISE AND MILITARY RANGES (www.gov.ie)

Lands with large scale accumulations of gorse and Bracken are generally suited to conversion to broadleaf or native forest. Current forestry schemes operated by my Department contain measures such as Forest Type 3 'Forests on Public Lands' offered through the Afforestation Scheme that provide grant supports to landowners, including public bodies, who wish to convert suitable high fire risk lands to low fire risk native forest with lasting amenity, climate and biodiversity benefits. Landowners and public bodies are encouraged to use these generous schemes to convert lands and reduce wildfire risks to our communities permanently.

A national wildfire strategy and supporting structures including a National Wildfire Coordinating Group will be developed in line with requirements of the National Biodiversity Action Plan