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Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Ceisteanna (337, 338, 339, 341, 356)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

337. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to revise the ash dieback reconstitution and underplanting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35026/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

338. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552 and 553 of 25 May 2021, if no commitment is given by his Department in the farmers charter or any other Departmental protocol that commits his Department to writing directly to each applicant for the reconstitution and underplanting scheme to update them on their application and the requirements of circular 5 21 on their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35027/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

339. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552 and 553 of 25 May 2021, if he informed the registered foresters that they are expected to revert to and inform the landowner applicants for the reconstitution and underplanting scheme of the requirements of the circular and the way a specific application may be impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35028/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

341. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 544, 545, 546,547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552 and 553 of 25 May 2021, the total area of ash in the country; the estimated area of ash excluded from the reconstitution and underplanting scheme due to age, height and disease infection rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35030/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

356. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will undertake a needs analysis of forest owners whose forests have been infected with ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35064/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, 341 and 356 together.

The National Forest Inventory 2017 records ash as approximately 25,280 ha, or 3.8% of the stocked forest area. This includes ash that may be a minor species in a mixed plantation.

The area of ash planted since 1990 is 15,897ha, of which 3,284 is over 25 years of age (planted 1990-1995) and thus not eligible for the reconstitution and underplanting scheme.

The reconstitution and underplanting scheme is not available to owners of ash plantations with low levels of infection (<4%). The level of plantation infection cannot be determined in any way other than through a site inspection and, therefore, it is not possible to estimate the area of ash plantations with low levels of infection. Nor does the Department have data relating to the area of ash plantation by height and scheme eligibility as this information will be determined through a site visit.

All registered foresters have been directly notified of circular 05-2021. This circular is published on the Department website, and is therefore publically available for all landowners and forest owners. As the agent for the landowner, it is the responsibility of the Registered Forester to fully understand the provisions in any Department Circular and to keep the applicant fully informed of any issues that may affect any specific applicant and application.

Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has provided support to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease. By the end of 2019, well over 1,000 hectares of infected and associated ash plantations had been cleared and replanted with alternative species at a cost to the exchequer of over €7 million. The nature and focus of the support provided has evolved as our understanding of the scale and nature of the disease has changed. The current scheme provides the forest owner with a broader range of silvicultural and management options.

The Department will continue to support ash plantation owners and will continue to keep ash dieback under review as it evolves over time.

There are currently no plans to undertake a needs analysis of forest owners whose plantation has been impacted by ash dieback disease.

Question No. 338 answered with Question No. 337.
Question No. 339 answered with Question No. 337.
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