Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
389. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will urgently give consideration to a scheme which would assist landowners in removing dangerous roadside trees, particularly those affected by ash dieback, and encourage landowners to plant trees at the lower end of landholdings; and his views on whether ash dieback is becoming an extremely urgent issue to deal with in the ash tree population. [8952/24]
View answerMy Department does not have responsibility for the removal of roadside trees. In relation to roadside trees, my colleague, Eamonn Ryan, Minister for Transport has previously stated that Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road. It is thus advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this. The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal of dangerous roadside trees is the responsibility of the local authority, in its capacity as the relevant road authority.
However, my Department has published guidance on the subject of roadside trees - “A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”. This publication provides information on how to identify trees that have ash dieback and outlines specific issues related to health and safety in tree work. It also gives practical guidance to those working with chainsaws taking out hazardous trees. My Department produced this publication in partnership with the Tree Council of Ireland and it can be found on the Departments website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/8fb45-a-guide-for-landowners-to-managing-roadside-trees/
In relation to ash dieback in plantations my Department has spent over €15 million to date in assisting the removal and replanting of trees in ash forests.
Under the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback in the new Forestry Programme, for clearing a site and replanting, the payment range of payments to landowners entering the scheme is from €5,858 up to €10,555/ha as well as a generous top up premium paid in a lump sum for those with remaining years of premium payments. So, for example, a forest owner with 10 years of remaining premium who enters into the Reconstitution Scheme to plant FT1 (native forest), could receive a lump sum payment of €6,355 per hectare.
In addition a detailed Ash Dieback action plan is being prepared by Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett for submission to Cabinet for approval in the near future.
