COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
MOTION NO. 12
MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge
That the Chief Executive issue specific instructions to contractors and council employees regarding the limited circumstances in which hedge-cutting is permitted during the off-season under s40 Wildlife Act 2000 in light of reports of the ban being ignored in the Glenasmole, Kilakee, Mount Venus areas and that the Environment SPC be asked to draft those instructions.
REPORT:
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is the body responsible for enforcement of the Wildlife Act 1976. Section 40 of the Act (as amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000) restricts the cutting of vegetation or hedges between 1st March and 31st August each year to facilitate the protection of nesting birds. As a local authority South Dublin County Council has an obligation to ensure that our own activities and the activities of contractors working on our behalf adhere to this legislation.
Any contravention of this legislation should be notified to NPWS or to the Gardaí, not to the Council, and any notifications received by SDCC are passed on to the NPWS. The NPWS usually places adverts in the media in February of each year reminding the public of the prohibition on hedge and verge cutting from March to August inclusive. There is no requirement on the Local Authority to notify or advertise this restriction to the public however the Council can examine the possibility of posting the publicity from the NPWS on the various social media platforms which are in use.