The Council will endeavour to ensure that the owner, or occupier of land shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation on the land is not a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road and that it does not obstruct or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road in accordance with Subsection 70(2)(a) of the Roads Act 1993.
Under Subsection 70(2)(a), it is clearly the landowner who has responsibility for the maintenance of the hedgerows along a public road. Donegal County Council does not cut all verges but will endeavour to remove dangers where vision lines are obstructed at junctions. In most cases where the verge is relatively narrow the landowner will often cut it when cutting the hedge.
Under the Wildlife Act, hedgecutting should not be carried out during the wildlife nesting season, between March 1st and August 31st, except where a failure to have the growth cut would cause a danger to persons using a public road.