Minister Josepha Madigan has been criticised for failing to extend the dates for controlled burning.
The Heritage Act 2018 allows for an extension to the burning season, but this is subject to ministerial approval. The current permissible dates are from 1 September until February 28.
Minister Madigan said Met Éireann data showed an extension would be unwarranted at this time.
“Weather conditions would not have precluded landowners from burning vegetation during the six-month period when this could have been done under the law, and accordingly there is no basis for me to extend the legal period for burning into March,” she said.
Farmers in Wicklow carrying out a controlled burn as part of the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environmental Scheme (SUAS). \ Declan Byrne
However, farmers argue that the minister’s decision shows a lack of understanding of upland management.
The Wicklow Uplands Council said that, despite the good weather at the end of February, the window of time was too narrow, resulting in condensed burning activities in the few short days before the deadline.
The council said March offers more favourable conditions and that Northern Ireland uses 15 April as the final day of its burning season.
Declan Byrne, project manager for the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environmental Scheme (SUAS), said focusing the argument on burning dates resulted in the perception that anything in the allowed period is legal and anything outside it is illegal.
Showing farmers how to carry out a controlled burn properly would be more constructive, he said.
Farmers in SUAS carried out a number of controlled burns with fire breaks in late February.
Farmers in Wicklow carrying out a controlled burn as part of the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environmental Scheme (SUAS). \ Declan Byrne
“Burning hasn’t been done on the hill in my lifetime and last week was a good opportunity to experience how to do it, how to control it and have the right equipment,” said George Power, who farms on the Glassamullen commonage.
“On our hill it is only a miracle there hasn’t been a wildfire, there hasn’t been any burning or control on it for years.”
Wicklow Fire Service had crews from six stations fighting gorse fires from the Dublin border to Hollywood on Tuesday 26 February.
However, Dublin Fire Brigade sub-officer Darren O’Connor said that they received some calls for fires that were very well controlled by farmers.
Read more
Burning 'well controlled by farmers' as dry weather heightens fire risk
No extension to controlled burning window
Minister Josepha Madigan has been criticised for failing to extend the dates for controlled burning.
The Heritage Act 2018 allows for an extension to the burning season, but this is subject to ministerial approval. The current permissible dates are from 1 September until February 28.
Minister Madigan said Met Éireann data showed an extension would be unwarranted at this time.
“Weather conditions would not have precluded landowners from burning vegetation during the six-month period when this could have been done under the law, and accordingly there is no basis for me to extend the legal period for burning into March,” she said.
Farmers in Wicklow carrying out a controlled burn as part of the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environmental Scheme (SUAS). \ Declan Byrne
However, farmers argue that the minister’s decision shows a lack of understanding of upland management.
The Wicklow Uplands Council said that, despite the good weather at the end of February, the window of time was too narrow, resulting in condensed burning activities in the few short days before the deadline.
The council said March offers more favourable conditions and that Northern Ireland uses 15 April as the final day of its burning season.
Declan Byrne, project manager for the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environmental Scheme (SUAS), said focusing the argument on burning dates resulted in the perception that anything in the allowed period is legal and anything outside it is illegal.
Showing farmers how to carry out a controlled burn properly would be more constructive, he said.
Farmers in SUAS carried out a number of controlled burns with fire breaks in late February.
Farmers in Wicklow carrying out a controlled burn as part of the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environmental Scheme (SUAS). \ Declan Byrne
“Burning hasn’t been done on the hill in my lifetime and last week was a good opportunity to experience how to do it, how to control it and have the right equipment,” said George Power, who farms on the Glassamullen commonage.
“On our hill it is only a miracle there hasn’t been a wildfire, there hasn’t been any burning or control on it for years.”
Wicklow Fire Service had crews from six stations fighting gorse fires from the Dublin border to Hollywood on Tuesday 26 February.
However, Dublin Fire Brigade sub-officer Darren O’Connor said that they received some calls for fires that were very well controlled by farmers.
Read more
Burning 'well controlled by farmers' as dry weather heightens fire risk
No extension to controlled burning window
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