Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
251. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide further details on the announced action plan on ash dieback; when such detail will be published on each of the measures included in the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21043/24]
View answer252. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide further details on the climate action performance payment measure, including required actions, eligibility criteria, payment terms and timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21044/24]
View answer253. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the recommendations made in the independent review of the Government's response to addressing ash dieback that have been specifically addressed in the announced action plan on ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21045/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 251, 252 and 253 together.
The Action Plan on Ash Dieback approved by Government last week responds to all the recommendations of the independent review which was published last September. The action plan details all appropriate actions that will be taken having considered all relevant matters, including State Aid Regulations and the Public Expenditure Code as well as the advancement of my Departments Climate Actions through the new Forestry Programme.
The action plan has been published on the Departments website. The dedicated ash dieback subgroup of the Forestry Consultative Committee (FSCC) which Minister of State Hackett has established will meet shortly to ensure stakeholder engagement on the implementation of the plan.
The details of the Climate Action Performance Payment have already been announced and we will shortly publish an FAQ document on the Department's website to cover all queries arising. The €5,000 per hectare will be paid in three instalments to grant aided ash forest owners who clear their sites and replant via one of the Departments Reconstitution Schemes. It will be paid at a rate of €5,000 per hectare in one instalment of €2,500 and two payments of €1,250. First instalment of €2,500 will be paid at first grant stage and €1,250 payments to commence at second grant stage if premiums are complete or after premiums end if still currently in receipt. This payment will be made available to all ash forest owners who currently own a forest that was established with support from an Afforestation Scheme and either have or will clear the Ash from their forests and replant with an alternative species via any of the Departments reconstitution schemes for that purpose. The application for each instalment will be made by the appropriate ash forest owner directly. Forest owners must enter an ash dieback reconstitution scheme before the end of 2027 in order to be considered for this payment. The Climate Action Performance Payment will be exempted from income tax by virtue of section 232(2) TCA.
The most important action that forest owners can take to avail of the new Climate Action Performance Payment will be to apply under the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback if they have not already done so. The CAPP payment is contingent on the clearing of sites and replanting. This message will again be communicated by my Department in the coming weeks across all media channels.
I am very pleased that the action plan and the remedial financial package has received positive response from many stakeholders and I, along with Minister of State Hackett, look forward to working with those stakeholders to implement the plan.
