Clare is calling on locals to avail of hedge-cutting grants

CLARE is allocating €15k for hedge-cutting over the coming autumn and winter seasons.

Clare County Council is asking those in the community to apply for the programme before September 29 and a grant of €50 per km of hedgerow will be paid, subject to certain conditions and available resources.

The Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme, which was the first of its kind to be developed in Ireland when it was piloted in 2013, will see €15,000 being provided to deal with the local road network over the coming autumn and winter seasons.

“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,” said Liam O’Connor, Administrative Officer, Transportation, Clare County Council.

“Our objective is that by the start of the nesting season in March 2024, much of the worst affected local roads 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.” 

The Roads Act 1993 states that all growth “emanating from any part” of the roadside boundary or from “within the land protected by the same” is the responsibility of the landowner, Mr O’Connor continued.

“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,” he said.

Applications can be found here at the Clare County Council website.