Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 May 2023
177. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports available for farmers to manage roadside ash trees infected by ash dieback disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23353/23]
View answer187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) seeking his support and endorsement in the modifying of the reconstitution and underplanting scheme (RUS) to help farmers and landowners remove diseased ash trees that pose a safety risk to the public and road users on public roads; if the RUS scheme will be reconfigured to acknowledge the financial loss incurred; if he will consider the introduction of a financial support scheme to help farmers and landowners remove diseased ash trees for the safety of others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23536/23]
View answer190. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine he plans to revise the reconstitution and underplanting scheme to include payments to farmers to remove roadside trees infected by ash dieback; if he has plans to allow for a support package to be made available through local authorities to enable farmers and landowners to hire professional to safely remove infected trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 187 and 190 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is aware of correspondence from the organisation named regarding Ash Dieback in roadside trees which includes their request for the introduction of a financial support scheme.
The care and management of trees adjacent to roads is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the roadside trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this.
The Department does not offer funding for the removal of roadside trees, but has recently published guidance on the subject of roadside trees (“A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”) and this can be accessed at the Department website.
A total of €9.2 million has been expended to date on the reconstitution schemes that my Department has offered for Ash Dieback. These schemes include supports to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from, or which were associated with plants affected by disease.
Last month, I 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:
• 100% increase in the site clearance grant rate, increased from €1,000 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.
A similar scheme for the reconstitution of ash dieback will be launched as part of the new forestry programme and does do not offer assistance for the removal of roadside trees.
