Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
436. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grants and premiums will be available in the next forestry programme for sufferers of ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19024/23]
View answer437. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a compensation package for loss of income will be introduced for sufferers of ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19025/23]
View answer444. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers affected by chalara fraxinea (ash dieback) disease; the support measures introduced by his Department to address this matter; the number of farmers who have applied for these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 436, 437 and 444 together.
The Deputy may be aware that the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback Disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineaus) in Ireland was made on 12th October 2012 at a forestry plantation site which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe.
In March 2013 the Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from, or which were associated with plants affected by disease.
Following a Review of the National Response to Ash Dieback Disease arising from scientific advice and evidence that eradication of ash dieback disease is no longer feasible the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) was launched in June 2020.
A total of €9.25 million has been expended to date on both schemes. These schemes included a grant for site clearance as well as replanting. There were 15,897 hectares of grant aided ash planted between 1990 and 2013, representing more than 4,000 separate forestry applications. Of these, intervention under the schemes has been grant aided for over 2,800 hectares.
Last month, Minister of State Pippa Hackett launched an Interim Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback via general de minimis which contains a doubling of site clearance rates, increased grant rates and an improved premium regime. The interim scheme includes the following enhanced features:
• Enhanced site clearance grant rate, increased to €2,000.
• Enhanced grant rates as per draft Forestry programme 2023-2027
• Those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premium due for the remaining years.
• In addition, for those in receipt of farmer rate of premium, a top up premium equal to the difference between the equivalent forestry type and the existing premium will be paid. This will be calculated for the remaining years left in premium and paid in a single sum.
This scheme is available to 154 current approvals covering an area of 477 hectares. To date, 14 of those eligible have applied for this scheme for an area of 65 hectares.
A similar scheme for the reconstitution of ash dieback will be launched as part of the new forestry programme. There are a further 589 applications for approval representing 2,534 hectares currently being processed which will be able to avail of the new programme scheme when approved.
State Aid Guidelines provide for aid for the restoration of damage to forests caused by a variety of events including damage from disease and pests. State Aid rules are explicit that this aid is for restoration and does not facilitate compensation for other loss, including income. There are 7,000 hectares of grant aided ash which remain in premium for periods ranging from one to eleven years.
My Department continues to review the operation of the ash dieback scheme, having regard to its effectiveness, the status of the plantations, state aid regulations and other issues having regard to the age and stage of the rotation of the almost 16,000 hectares of ash that were grant aided between 1990 and 2013.
