A Kerry County Councillor is calling for a taskforce to be established to tackle the issue of illegal burning.
Sinn Féin councillor Cathal Foley raised the issue at the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council.
He says ongoing illegal burning of upland areas causes environmental and reputational damage.
Cllr Cathal Foley wants Kerry County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other interested parties to initiate a taskforce to try and resolve the practice of illegal burning.
He says burning is not the way forward and wants action taken.
The council says in 2011 an interagency group dealing with wildfires in Kerry was formed; this group consists of representatives from Kerry County Council, Kerry Fire and Rescue Service, Department of Agriculture Forestry and the Marine, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Gardaí.
Since this group was established the number of out-of-control gorse fires has been reduced from a high of 650 in 2010, to between 104 and 255 annually.
Meanwhile, Independent councillor Dan McCarthy feels, having regard to the recent fire in Killarney National Park, a plan must be established for the management of upland shrub and says we must pre-empt how fires can start.
Cllr McCarthy is calling on the Department to provide additional advice in relation to responsible, managed and controlled burning to ensure best practice from a fire safety and environmental point of view.
