Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 2

Written Answers. - Destruction of Wildlife Habitats.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

20 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that hedge cutting by local authorities and individuals and the burning of undergrowth and other nesting areas of birds and wildlife in general is continuing unabated during the current breeding season; and the measures, if any, he intends to take to stop it. [12590/97]

Austin Deasy

Question:

30 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the action, if any, he is taking to prevent the destruction of wildlife habitats during the breeding season and in particular those of nesting birds. [12694/97]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 30 together.

Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, recognises the value of habitats such as hedgerows for nesting birds and provides protection, subject to certain exceptions, against the cutting, grubbing, burning etc. of any vegetation on uncultivated land during the period 15 April to 31 August. Local authorities are exempt from this provision under section 40(2)(c) but the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has again written this year to all local authorities seeking their co-operation in ensuring that hedge cutting operations, as far as possible, are only undertaken outside the critical nesting period of 15 April to 31 August. In general, subject to their safety obligations for public roads, the response from local authorities has been very positive but if the Deputies supply details of unnecessary hedge cutting, I will raise the matter directly with the relevant local authorities.

I have written to my colleague, Deputy Brendan Howlin, Minister for the Environment, asking for his support in this matter.

The provisions under section 40 against the cutting, grubbing, burning etc. by private individuals are enforced by the NPWS ranger staff and it is the policy to prosecute offenders when the necessary evidence is available to bring a prosecution under the Act. However, tracing the source of fires and catching offenders in the act make the enforcement of these provisions difficult.