There are further calls for a scheme to allow landowners remove dangerous trees, particularly those affected by ash dieback.
Longford-Westmeath TD Robert Troy has also called for an extension to the dates for cutting vegetation so that diseased ash trees can be cut down “as soon as possible”.
“I’m appealing to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to give urgent consideration to a scheme to assist landowners in removing dangerous roadside trees, particularly those affected by ash dieback,” the Fianna Fáil TD said.
“This is a huge problem and people need to be assisted to remove trees that are not safe. Ash dieback is becoming an extremely urgent issue.”
Troy also called on the state to encourage landowners to plant trees away from roadsides.
In response to a parliamentary question from Troy, Minister McConalogue said it is the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees and hedges growing on their land do not become a danger to people using a public road.
On the ash dieback issue, Minister McConalogue said: “Under the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback in the new Forestry Programme, for clearing a site and replanting, the range of payments to landowners entering the scheme is from €5,858 up to €10,555/ha as well as a generous top up premium paid in a lump sum for those with remaining years of premium payments.
“In addition, a detailed ash dieback action plan is being prepared by Minister of State Pippa Hackett for submission to cabinet for approval in the near future.”
In response to Troy’s parliamentary question regarding the extension of dates, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Michael Noonan told deputy Troy that the dates for the cutting of vegetation and hedges are set down in primary legislation. There is a ban on felling from March 1 to August 31, with “certain strict exemptions”.
“There is provision in the legislation for certain exemptions in respect of cutting vegetation in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry; for health and safety reasons; the destruction of noxious weeds; and for cutting roadside hedges for road safety reasons,” Minister Noonan said.
The Minister added: “As the dates are set out in primary legislation, I have no power or discretion to vary them. The dates may only be altered by primary legislation enacted by the Oireachtas.”
The annual hedge cutting season came to a close today (Friday, March 1).
Under the Wildlife Act, the cutting, grubbing, burning or other destruction of “vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch” is illegal between March 1 and August 31.
The phrase “the ordinary course of agriculture” is not specifically defined in the act, and its interpretation is a matter for the courts, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said.
The purpose of this provision is to ensure that farmers, landowners and foresters are not prevented from carrying out tasks necessary for their work.
Some of this may include the cutting back of hedging in order to widen an entrance to allow machinery pass through or, for instance, the maintenance of the operation of electrical fencing.