Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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987. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants to the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback from 2013 to date and the reconstitution and underplanting scheme (ash dieback) from 2020 to date; if he will advise the number of applications and funding allocated per year per scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28407/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback Disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineaus) in Ireland was made on 12^thOctober 2012 at a forestry plantation site which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe.

In March 2013, my Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from, or which were associated with plants affected by disease.

Following a Review of the National Response to Ash Dieback Disease arising from scientific advice and evidence that eradication of ash dieback disease is no longer feasible the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) was launched in June 2020.

The table below shows the amount expended on completed works under each of the Ash Dieback reconstitution schemes from 2013. The number of applications for approval under each scheme is indicated for each year. The Deputy should note that expenditure is for completed works and the totals given are for a combination of site clearance, first planting grant or second grant.