There will be no changes to the current hedge-cutting dates ahead of the closed period which begins on 1 March.

A proposed pilot period, which could see controlled hedge-cutting in August and controlled gorse burning in March, has yet to be passed as part of the Heritage Bill 2016.

Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction by other means of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches is restricted between 1 March and 31 August.

The bill is to be debated by the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 25 April – almost two months after the closed period begins.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Sinn Féin TD Peadar Toibín, chair of the Oireachtas committee, said the bill needs to ensure “farmers can function, roads are safe and that the biodiversity of the country is maintained. I have difficulty with allowing hedge cutting in August.”

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