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Environmental Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2013

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Questions (157, 158, 160, 161)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

157. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to extending the hedge cutting season as a result of difficulties experienced by landowners and contractors due to bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3267/13]

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Sandra McLellan

Question:

158. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will allow hedge cutting to be extended well into April as the bad weather has hampered farmers efforts to get the hedges cut within the allowed timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3272/13]

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Jack Wall

Question:

160. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding hedge cutting; his plans to address the issue in view of the seriousness of road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3409/13]

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Nicky McFadden

Question:

161. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the hedge cutting season will be extended into April in view of the fact that a large amount of hedge cutting on roadsides and in fields could not be carried out due to bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3503/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 158, 160 and 161 together.

Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts, the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction by other means of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches is prohibited during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife, from 1 March to 31 August subject to certain specific exceptions. Hedgerows are an important reservoir of biodiversity and habitat for birds, insects, wild flowers and other wildlife during the summer breeding season. The purpose of these provisions is to protect bird life during the nesting season, to prevent forest fires, and to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction. I have no current plans to extend the period for hedge cutting.

While hedgerows and scrub are important as wildlife habitats, they need to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. Accordingly, I included a commitment in the National Biodiversity Plan 2011-2016 to review the overall policy in this area. The commitment is to review, in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, both hedgerow and scrub regulation with a view to producing guidelines to encourage best practice for hedgerow and scrub management for wildlife.

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