Burning off scrub must be regulated

Very soon, the hills in parts of the south and west will be ablaze, writes Donal Hickey

Fire brigades will rush to and fro and some people will be trying to protect their homes from out-of-control, illegal gorse fires.

Last year, thousands of acres were destroyed in mountainous areas, around 4,000 acres in Killarney National Park alone. Burning off scrub to allow fresh vegetation to grow has been an agricultural practice since time immemorial, but it has to be regulated and there the conflict arises between farmers and environmentalists.