Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
105. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are financial supports and premia in the new forestry plan for those with ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53255/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am aware of their serious concerns.
Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme, introduced in 2013, and more recently the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme introduced in July 2020.
The current scheme provides 100% grant aid to landowners to clear their ash crop, replant with an alternate species and manage their forest until successfully established. It is intended to continue to offer the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme through the next Forestry Programme which will cover the period from 2023-2027.
As the Deputy may be aware, the draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which includes the next Forestry Programme measures, including the Reconstitution intervention, were published on Tuesday 18th October.
These are now subject to a six-week public consultation process. This means that stakeholders and interested parties can review the measures and Schemes that are being proposed for the next Forestry Programme and may submit their feedback.
The Department is currently in discussions with the Department of Expenditure and Reform in respect of sanction for the new Forestry Programme.
Once those discussions have concluded, I will be in position to publish details of proposed financial supports for the new forestry measures.
I am confident that we will deliver the biggest Forestry Programme to date which will ensure that forestry continues to be central to the Government's efforts to reach our climate goals as well as strongly supporting the rural economy.
