COMMUNITIES and groups in Clare have been encouraged to apply for grants under a hedge cutting scheme.
Landowners and community groups can be facilitated by Clare County Council in maintaining hedgerows throughout the county while adopting a management regime in keeping with biodiversity considerations.
First piloted in 2013, the Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme was the first of its kind to be developed in Ireland, will see €15,000 being provided to deal with the local road network over the coming autumn and winter seasons.
Applications are being invited from communities and groups before September 30th, 2024. Each application will be assessed and a grant of €50 per km of hedgerow will be paid, subject to certain conditions and available resources.
Officials in Clare County Council said the scheme will provide some financial assistance to communities and groups that undertake hedge cutting and the cutting of overhanging trees, and will assist landowners in complying with their responsibilities under Section 70 of the Roads Act, 1993.
“We are confident that this scheme, complemented by the Council’s ongoing hedge cutting programme, will be of benefit in dealing effectively with this issue. Our objective is that by the start of the nesting season in March 2025, much of the worst affected local roads in the County will be significantly enhanced in their capacity to accommodate the traffic that uses them, while sustainably managing hedgerows for biodiversity and wildlife through best practice,” explained Liam O’Connor, Administrative Officer, Transportation, Clare County Council.
He added, “The Roads Act, 1993 stipulates that all growth emanating from any part of the roadside boundary structure or from within the land protected by same is the responsibility of the landowner”.
O’Connor said, “From a road safety point of view, it is important that this responsibility is acknowledged and embraced by roadside landowners and the Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme is intended to provide support in this context to offset some of the costs associated with hedge cutting. The works will also take cognisance of the requirements of the Irish Wildlife Act (as amended) having a particular regard to hedgerow management and nesting birds. We are urging that hedgerows be lightly trimmed to protect the structure of the hedgerows adopting a triangular A shape height on the hedgerows and to avoid overcutting too far into the hedgerows”.
Application forms are available online via www.clarecoco.ie, and from the offices of Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis.
