Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
265. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a reconstitutional grant will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44026/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to point out that Ireland has taken the lead in Europe in terms of the scale of actions it has taken and continues to take against this disease and is similarly at the forefront in terms of the level of financial supports being made available to individual forest owners affected by it.
The Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback), which is currently under review, is an entirely Exchequer funded scheme and provides support for the forest owner for the reconstitution of Ash plantations which have suffered from or are associated with Chalara. The objective of this scheme is to support the removal of trees affected by the disease and the reconstitution of the forest with alternative species to ash including more commercial conifer species.
In terms of further support a revised Woodland Improvement Scheme will allow eligible landowners to avail of a second thinning grant. This will assist forest owners in managing any continuing impact of Chalara in their plantation. This scheme is due to be launched shortly.
In the case of forest owners who have already carried out a first thinning the Department must ensure that an application for support under the Reconstitution Scheme does not create a double payment with regard to trees that have already been removed during initial works. The application for the Reconstitution Scheme for the person named is currently under review in this regard.
