Mr. Colum Walsh:

In regard to the area affected, the all-Ireland ash dieback synopsis on the Teagasc website states that 20,000 ha are affected by ash dieback. There are 500,000 km of hedgerows, with ash being the second most important species in hedgerows, affected also.

On a figure for compensation, I am not a forester but some of the figures on compensation were handed to me. The issue is that some plantations were at different levels of growth. On the typical 40-year or 45-year clear-fell of ash, figures given to me indicated that one should be clearing €40,000 per hectare. If 20,000 ha are affected, that is €800 million.