Hedge cutting deadline must be extended in Tipperary to allow clean up following Storm Éowyn

Landowners urged to cut back and maintain hedges and trees along public roads,

placeholder image — Landowners urged to cut back and maintain hedges and trees along public roads,

Independent TD for Tipperary South Mattie McGrath asked for the deadline for hedge cutting to be extended for another month at least

Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has made calls for the hedge cutting deadline to be extended, to allow for the full clean up of overhanging trees and hedges following Storm Éowyn.

The deadline for hedge cutting is this Friday February 28 but the TD has asked for "common sense" to be applied and for the deadline to be extended further.

"After this most recent storm and indeed the snow storms, there's hedges and trees hanging on roads everywhere, there's also wires collapsed on top of ditches.

"Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) have asked me to extend the hedge cutting season for at least a month, in view of the damage that was done and the danger of overhanging wires, it's a health and safety problem for road users as well" said McGrath in the Dáil this week.

Taoiseach Michael Martin replied that there are significant biodiversity issues with regards to the situation, but concluded that he will talk to the Minister in relation to the matter.