Land owners are required to clear bush and trim back trees near isolated homes, villages and roads, with failure to do so resulting in fines of up to 120,000 euros.

Minimum fines for non-compliant landowners have also been doubled from 140 to 280 euros.

Government officials said earlier this month that inspections will start in all earnest on the 30th of March adding that more than 8,000 fines were dished out during the course of last year.