Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Deputies across the House may be aware that the first confirmed finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland was made on 12 October 2012 at a forestry plantation site that had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe. In March 2013, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine introduced a reconstitution scheme to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme that had suffered from, or were associated with, plants affected by the 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, RUS, was launched in June 2020. The purpose of the RUS was to clear all ash trees and replant with other species. Grants for site clearance and replanting to cover the costs associated with these operations were provided, and premiums continued to be paid where the contracts were still in premium. A total of €9.2 million has been expended to date on both schemes.

In March, I introduced an interim reconstitution scheme for ash dieback via general de minimisprovisions. It doubles site clearance rates, increases grant rates and has an improved premium regime. The interim scheme includes the following enhanced features: a 100% increase in the site clearance grant rate from €1,000 to €2,000; enhanced grant rates as per the draft forestry programme for the period 2023 to 2027; those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premiums due for the remaining years; and for those in receipt of the farmer rate of premium, a top-up premium equal to the difference between the equivalent forestry type and the existing premium will be paid. This will be calculated for the remaining years left in premium and paid in a single sum. A similar scheme for the reconstitution of ash dieback will be launched as part of the new forestry programme.

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