Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2076. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the existing CAP regulation that permits the removal of hedgerows by a farmer if they replant double the length within ten kilometres; if his attention has been drawn to calls to end this practice by environmental and animal rights groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40167/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 was submitted to the European Commission on the 31st December 2021, ahead of the regulatory deadline for submission of 1st January 2022.
The draft CSP has been shared with the CAP Consultative Committee and was published on the Government website. The Commission has responded to Ireland's CSP with observations and my Department is in discussions with the Commission and amending the CSP where appropriate. Engagement with stakeholders is continuing through the process.
Currently under GAEC 7 in Cross Compliance, hedgerows in Ireland are designated landscape features (and have been since 2009), which means that they are protected and cannot be removed. However, in certain circumstances, the removal of these hedgerows is permitted, provided a length of the hedgerow equivalent to the length be removed is planted in advance of the removal.
This applies to any length of hedgerow that is removed. In addition, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed before farmers carry out certain types of development on their land including the removal of hedgerows above a specific length.
My Department will shortly conduct a full review of the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations, which will include a review of the relevant thresholds and my Department is committed to engaging with key stakeholders as part of the process.
In relation to the next CAP, as set out in the draft CAP Strategic Plan, a number of features including hedgerows, will continue to be designated as landscape features for retention. Farmers will be required to retain and maintain these landscape features.
However, some landscape features, including hedgerows may be removed provided a replacement hedgerow is planted in advance of the removal. To further protect these established landscape features, Ireland proposes that if a landscape feature is to be removed it must be replaced with twice the proposed removal length in advance.
This requirement recognises the environmental value of existing hedgerows and also has a dissuasive effect.
