Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their update. The one thing they have confirmed is that nothing has changed since the last time they were here and nothing has improved. We, the witnesses and the Department were aware at the time that RUS was just a sticking plaster. When the witnesses were here before, while we all saw the seriousness and importance of the issue for them, we were delved into the issue of licensing. I think ash dieback was just a tag-along at the time and perhaps we did not give it as much consideration as we did to trying to find a solution to the problem with licensing. For that reason, I am glad the witnesses are back before us for a stand-alone meeting. It is important that we take this specific issue further.

With that in mind, I seek some more information. Mr. White answered it to an extent in his response to Deputy Fitzmaurice's question. Basically what you get through RUS is €1,000 per hectare to remove the trees. Do you then get the scheme restarted? I mean, do you then get the forestry grant to replant for 20 years or are you disqualified for whatever number of years or portion of the forestry grant you already have received?