Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
124. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline his role, in the study and protection of hedgerows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14203/23]
View answerRestrictions on cutting hedgerows are set out in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended. This Act stipulates that it is an offence to destroy vegetation on uncultivated land between the 1 March and the 31 August each year. It is a significant legal protection for our hedgerows and recognises the importance of this habitat for many bird and other species and as wildlife corridors.
My Department continues to vigorously enforce this legislation. Suspected breaches are investigated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and An Garda Síochána. The NPWS has sent 37 section 40 cases to the Chief State Solicitors Office since the beginning of 2022.
The NPWS also has a Farm Plan Scheme, which, inter alia, supports the creation and enhancement of hedgerows and other linear/connective landscape features of value to wildlife.
My Department undertakes a variety of habitat studies in which hedgerows may feature, including, for instance, the Hen Harrier Habitat Mapping Project 2016 and the Land Cover Data 2018 for Ireland. The NPWS also participated in the Steering Group of Farm-Carbon (lead by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), which provided a greater understanding of the land use mitigation potential of hedgerows in Irish agriculture.
My Department is currently conducting a review of wildlife legislation. This is an extensive review and is a multi-year project, taking in every facet of our wildlife laws. It will entail extensive public consultation. It will examine closely the effectiveness of our legislation in protecting wildlife and regulating activities that adversely impact on wildlife and biodiversity. The protection afforded to hedgerows under our legislation is one of the issues that will be closely examined as part of this project.
