Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023

Thursday, 30 November 2023

Questions (445)

Michael Lowry

Question:

445. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service of his Department has cross-referenced the ash dieback RUS applications with corresponding road licence applications on a forest level basis to ensure that forest road approvals will be issued in conjunction with ash dieback reconstitution approvals to enable the necessary clearance works to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52944/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The reconstitution ash die-back and forest roads schemes are now open to applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027.

My Department has also written to RUS and Forest Road applicants that had an approval under the previous programme and hadn’t commenced work, along with those who had a current application that hadn’t been approved, to offer them the opportunity to opt-in under the conditions of the new schemes and to avail of enhanced grants and payments.

There are different criteria for both the RUS and the Road scheme and therefore they must be assessed independently of each other. 

Details of all schemes offered under the new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 can be found here: gov.ie - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie)