Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
266. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the rules regarding replanting will be relaxed in circumstances in which there has been an outbreak of ash dieback to allow more commercially viable planting to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44027/18]
View answer267. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the landowner can be allowed to clear fell more than ten hectares without restriction to reduce the economic cost of doing the work in the case of an ash dieback situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44028/18]
View answer268. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce greater grant aid for resetting after an outbreak of ash dieback due to the economic hardship of the event for the landowner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44029/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 268, inclusive, together.
It is important to point out that Ireland has taken the lead in Europe in terms of the scale of actions it has taken and continues to take against this disease and is similarly at the forefront in terms of the level of financial supports being made available to individual forest owners affected by it.
The Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback), which is currently under review, is an entirely Exchequer funded scheme and provides support for the forest owner for the reconstitution of Ash plantations which have suffered from or are associated with Chalara. The objective of this scheme is to support the removal of trees affected by the disease and the reconstitution of the forest with alternative species to ash including more commercial conifer species. Forest owners need to be aware of possible changes to premiums if conifers are chosen. While owners can fell ten hectares or more in these situations, in cases involving the replacement of more than 10 hectares of broadleaf high forest by conifer species there may be a requirement for planning permission and if so there may be restrictions associated with that planning permission under the Planning and Development Act. This is for the relevant Planning Authority to determine, and any person may request (for a prescribed fee), under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a declaration on the matter from their Local Planning Authority.
In terms of further support, the revised Woodland Improvement Scheme will allow eligible landowners to avail of a second thinning grant. This will assist forest owners in managing any continuing impact of Chalara in their plantation. This scheme is due to be launched shortly.
