Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. No adult trees currently have the problem. The work we started in the past two weeks will continue for the next month or six weeks and will determine how we save Irish ash trees and become self-sufficient in ash by 2020. Much hard work lies ahead and members of the public, the National Roads Authority, the Irish Farmers Association and those who operate the agri-environment options and rural environment protection schemes, AEOS and REPS, have an important role to play in this regard. Of the utmost importance is the co-operation taking place between my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North, which is headed by the Sinn Féin Minister, Ms Michelle O'Neill, MLA. The plant issue will be addressed on an all-island basis and both I and my Northern counterpart have given a commitment to act together. We need to take action now because the danger presented by Chalara fraxinea, also known as ash dieback disease, is much greater in June and July when spores spread. Last week, acting on instructions from the Department, inspectors commenced a process of inspecting every imported ash tree. The Department's traceability systems mean we have the capacity to identify the location of nearly every ash tree imported under the AEOS or REPS. My officials had a good meeting with representatives of the Irish Farmers Association this morning and on Thursday representatives of the National Roads Authority will provide us with information on where it has planted ash.

We know what must be done and it is our intention to ensure that every ash tree imported since 2007 is accounted for. Those plants for which records cannot be provided will be destroyed. The Department is carrying out tests and inspections are taking place.

I now propose to provide the official reply. I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. Chalara fraxinea poses a major threat to ash plantations throughout the island and those forest industries which rely on the ash species for their business, most notably, the hurley making sector. With 3% of the national estate under ash and 10% of all new planting made of ash species, my Department took swift action to address this threat. I assure the House that it is doing everything possible to protect one of our most important native species. Chalara fraxinea has spread rapidly across much of Europe, with the majority of European countries where ash is present reporting dieback. Since 2008, the Department's forestry inspectorate staff have been carrying out surveys to monitor and determine the disease's status in Ireland.

Ash plants and wood with bark imported from countries where the disease is known to occur constitute the most likely source of infection in this country. Approximately 200,000 ash plants and 1,600 cu. m of roundwood ash for hurley manufacture are imported per annum. My Department confirmed the finding of the disease at sites in counties Leitrim, Galway, Tipperary and Meath, all of which come from one consignment of ash plants. The Department responded by cutting and burning the entire batch last month. We are aware of the possibility that other consignments of infected material could have made their way into the country and departmental officials are currently carrying out an extensive nationwide survey of forests planted with imported ash. Legislation was also introduced to deal with the threat of further occurrences of the disease from imported material. On 26 October legal measures were introduced to prohibit the importation of plant material from ash dieback infected areas. These measures, which were introduced by ministerial order, took effect immediately. Until that point, a voluntary import moratorium had been in place by forest nurseries. Further legislation, which took effect on 6 November, restricts ash wood movement.

On the supply of ash wood for hurley making, it is estimated that 2,100 cu. m of ash wood is required per annum. This equates to approximately 360,000 hurleys. Coillte, the State forestry board, supplies roughly 400 cu. m of this material, while the private sector provides a further 100 cu. m. The remainder, amounting to 1,600 cu. m is imported. In terms of output, hurley making is worth between €6 million and €8 million per annum to the economy and it is clear that supply is a major concern for them. To help alleviate any potential supply problems, my Department has been in contact with Coillte, which has agreed to bring forward harvesting schedules for ash. It will also work with its counterpart in the United Kingdom with a view to securing additional supply. Incidentally, the Deputies opposite need not be concerned that County Meath will take any hurling crowns.

On the specific questions regarding the establishment of a DNA database for indigenous ash plants, Ireland has begun to collect some information on forest genetic resources as part of its national forestry surveys. It is intended that gene conservation strategies and programmes for specific tree species will be further developed. In this regard, a gene conservation strategy for ash has been introduced. However, we must be mindful of the risk of this disease becoming established in Ireland and consider the development of breeding programmes for Chalara fraxinea resistant Irish ash trees. While we do not know what level of resistance Irish ash will have to the disease, experience from countries where the disease has been identified suggests there is some natural resistance in some ash trees. Breeding programmes, therefore, have the potential to improve species' resistance. We must think ahead and try to future proof our ash plantations from this disease.

I assure forest owners who have been directly affected by Chalara fraxinea that the Department will continue to provide the technical support necessary until the matter has been fully resolved. Department officials are also examining the options available in terms of re-establishing the affected plantations and restoring them to their condition prior to the confirmation of the presence of Chalara fraxinea. I intend to closely monitor the position and take whatever steps or measures are necessary to protect this important species.

Every member of the general public will be asked to co-operate in our efforts. We intend to have identified within ten days the location of every imported ash plant. This will be achieved with the assistance of the farming community, National Roads Authority and forestry section of the Department. We have much work to do and, as I noted, the next three months will be crucial.

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