Creed warns over illegal burning

ILLEGAL burning has always been a divisive topic, but it has been brought into even clearer focus this spring.

Gorse burning has led to some very serious call-outs for Kerry’s fire services in recent weeks, at a time when emergency services are already stretched to the limit amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Among these was an incident between Glanteenassig and Aughacasla, during which the blaze spread to some 100 acres, including a portion of the much-loved Glanteenassig Wood.

The day after the incident, Kerry’s fire services explained to The Kerryman that they suspect the incident began due to illegal gorse burning.

With incidents such as that in mind, Minister Michael Creed has issued a pointed warning to farmers. It is illegal to burn at this time of year anyway, but such activity has taken on greater gravity at the current time.

“Although most on-farm visits are currently suspended due to the COVID19 crisis, my Department is continuing to carefully monitor satellite imagery in order to identify any parcels of land that are burnt illegally,” the Minister said.

“Follow-up ground inspections will take place where necessary. It would be an act of gross disregard for your community if you set illegal fires that could stretch the resources of our emergency services when they are already prioritising care for the vulnerable in our society at this particular time.”

Burning land between March 1 and August 31 will put landowners’ eligibility for payment schemes at risk, the Department added.

Burnt land is ineligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme and other area-based schemes, and indeed including illegally burnt land in the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme application may result in reduced payment and penalties under this and other schemes.

Illegally burning land could also deem your neighbour’s land ineligible.

“This is an unprecedented time in Ireland and I know that we can depend on the farming community to once again come to the assistance of the whole country in maintaining food supply,” Minister Creed said.

“This makes it all the more important that a small number do not act in a reckless and thoughtless way by illegally burning land,” he added.