Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
341. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any of the frost reconstitution applications lodged with his Department have been processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36905/22]
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 received 390 applications in the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost) up to the closing date, which was extended to 31st May. We are currently processing these applications.
Full scheme details are available on gov.ie - Schemes and Payments (www.gov.ie).
