Government relaxes hedge-burning rules for August

Farmers have welcomed decisions by Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Minister Heather Humphreys to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning on a pilot basis in certain areas within the existing closed period.

Managed hedge cutting will be allowed, under strict criteria in August to help ensure that issues such as overgrown hedges impacting on roads can be tackled.

The minister will also have power to allow controlled burning during March in certain areas, to be specified by her, should it be necessary due, for example, to adverse weather conditions.