Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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734. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take to prevent a recurrence of the weeks of gorse fires at Ticknock in August 2025 (details supplied), which caused serious air pollution and increased carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51829/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I am fully aware of the fires that occurred in Ticknock in August, and the disturbance and distress caused to those who live near the area. I would like to acknowledge the work of the emergency services during that period.

I understand that setting fire to land may be deemed criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, which is enforceable by An Gardaí. These fires, were set during the nesting season and therefore may also be deemed illegal under the Wildlife Act 1976. The enforcement under this Act rests with the NPWS and an Gardaí.

My Department regularly issues fire warnings during the Spring and Summer depending on the fire risk.

Reduction and maintenance of high-risk vegetation (such as heather and gorse) is critical to managing fire risk. Some of these key preventative actions in high risk areas are directly supported through the network of schemes and European Innovation Partnership project.

While I am aware that in parts of the country there has been a tradition of burning vegetation to promote fresh growth, the incidences of this practice during the nesting season has declined in recent years, as a result of Department communications around this subject and in particular reminding farmers that they put their payments at risk if they are found to cause fires on their land during the nesting season.

There is a very firm link in recent years between these wildfires and the illegal dumping and burning of domestic waste, and malicious burning at forest amenity sites and turf bogs open to the public. I ask all countryside users to be vigilant, to report any suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána, and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the Fire and Emergency Services via 112/999 service.