Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
831. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the frost reconstitution applications that have been received to date that his Department expect to approve in June and by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27856/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department launched a Reconstitution of Woodland scheme to address frost damage earlier this year. The scheme was set up due to significant late spring frost events which took place during May 2019, May 2020, and May 2021.
The scheme was established to reconstitute newly planted forests significantly damaged by these frost events and replacing dead trees with plants of acceptable quality, provenances and species. It is also to provide for remedial pruning of damaged crops where damage is significant but not severe enough to warrant full replacement of stems.
The scheme is open to private forest owners who planted during the period between 1st November 2017 and 1st June 2021 and whose entire plantations sustained a minimum of 30% losses are eligible to apply under the Scheme.
My Department has received 310 applications in the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost) to date and the closing date for applications has been extended to this Tuesday 31st May. We have committed in our 2022 Licensing Plan to delivering most of the approvals for this scheme this year.
Full scheme details are available on gov.ie - Schemes and Payments (www.gov.ie).
