Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
897. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of ash plantations potentially infected with ash dieback in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17559/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe damage caused by ash dieback disease is rapidly increasing in Europe and Ireland. It is likely in the coming years to have a catastrophic impact on ash wherever it occurs in the Irish landscape, including in hedgerows and in the wider natural environment.
The total area of grant aided ash is approximately 15,000 hectares. To date approximately 2,000 hectares of this grant aided ash has been cleared under the Departments schemes. The National Forest Inventory (2017), a sample inventory, concluded that in total there was 25,000 hectares of ash (+/- 5,000 hectares).
Such is the presence of the disease, all ash forests in Ireland at this point can be deemed potentially infected by ash dieback to a greater or lesser degree.
