The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) fined 283 farmers for illegal burning of land in 2025.

This marks a significant increase on the 52 farmers who were financially penalised for illegal burning in the previous year.

Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, it is illegal to burn vegetation on uncultivated land between March 1 and August 31 to protect nesting birds and habitats.

The department's direct payments division carries out systematic monitoring to detect burnt land using satellite imagery.

Illegal burning

Land which is found to have been illegally burnt land can be deemed ineligible for payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme and the other area-based schemes, including the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC).

The data provided to Agriland shows that of the 283 farmers fined for illegal burning of land in 2025, 56 were located in Co. Kerry.

This was followed by 36 farmers in Galway, 33 in Donegal and 31 in Cork.

There were no fines imposed in eight counties: Laois; Limerick; Longford; Meath; Monaghan; Offaly; Tipperary; and Westmeath.

The full breakdown of fines issued to farmers for illegal burning of land on a county-by-county basis is as follows:

Carlow: 27
Cavan: 2
Clare: 13
Cork: 31
Donegal: 33
Dublin: 11
Galway: 36
Kerry: 56
Kildare: 1
Kilkenny: 2
Laois: 0
Leitrim: 2
Limerick: 0
Longford: 0
Louth: 3
Mayo: 31
Meath: 0
Monaghan: 0
Offaly: 0
Roscommon: 14
Sligo: 2
Tipperary: 0
Waterford: 1
Westmeath: 0
Wexford: 4
Wicklow: 14

The department also confirmed that there were 290 appeals made by farmers to DAFM in relation to illegal burning.

This figure includes farmers who had no financial impact or reduction applied to their application.

"141 appeals have been decided on and 149 are outstanding. All 141 appeals have been successful to date.

"We are awaiting documentation for the remaining appeals," a DAFM spokesperson told Agriland.