Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. Even with the enhanced features of the interim scheme, several issues have been flagged. The likes of SIF and the IFA have said the scheme, even with the enhanced features, does not go far enough. The Minister of State has said it includes grants to cover the cost of site clearance. Does she know what those costs are? Again, the organisations are telling us that what the Government has announced does not cover all costs associated with removing affected ash dieback trees. We know that because this issue has been allowed to go on for this long, the situation is now worse. The decay in the trees is worse, and that will make it more expensive to remove them safely. The costs announced as part of the scheme do not cover this.

I also wish to raise the issue of the compensation package for the loss of income suffered. Affected farmers and landowners should be allowed to access the same premium grants as new entrants under the scheme. This is just as much about confidence in the sector as it is about dealing with the issue of ash dieback.

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