Wildlife Act, 1976

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Burning of vegetation near woods or certain other land restricted.

39.—(1) A person shall not burn any vegetation growing within one mile of—

(a) a wood which is not the property of such person, or

(b) land to which an establishment order, a recognition order, a designation order or an agreement under section 18 of this Act relates,

unless such person has, not less than seven days or more than thirty-five days before burning such vegetation, given notice of his intention to do so in writing to both the sergeant in charge of a Garda Síochána station in the Garda Síochána district in which the wood or land is situate and to—

(i) in the case of a wood, the occupier of the wood,

(ii) in the case of land to which an establishment order, a recognition order or an agreement under the said section 18 relates, the Minister together with, in case the Minister is not the owner of the land, the occupier,

(iii) in the case of land to which a designation order relates, the Minister.

(2) Where notice is given under subsection (1) of this section, the Minister or any other person to whom the notice is given may within three days after receiving the notice serve a counter-notice on the person by whom such notice was given objecting to the proposed burning on the ground that it is liable to cause damage to the wood or land concerned.

(3) A person shall not—

(a) light a fire, or

(b) do any other act,

which causes, or is likely to cause, the burning of vegetation which is growing within one mile either of a wood which is not the property of such person or of land mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section.

(4) Any person who burns vegetation, lights a fire or does any other act in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

(5) Where a person—

(a) burns any vegetation either in contravention of subsection (1) of this section or after giving the notice required by this section and receiving a counter-notice under this section,

(b) lights a fire or does any other act in contravention of subsection (3) of this section,

any injury occasioned by such burning, lighting or doing to,

(c) in case the contravention is a contravention of the said subsection (1), any wood or land in respect of which a notice ought to have been or was served under this section, or

(d) in case the contravention is a contravention of the said subsection (3), any wood which is not the property of such person or any land mentioned in paragraph (b) of the said subsection (1),

shall be deemed to have been caused by the negligent act of that person, and damages to the extent of that injury shall be recoverable accordingly in any court of competent jurisdiction from that person by the owner of such wood or land, as the case may be.

(6) In this section “wood” includes a plantation.