Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today, I rise to raise the matter of ash dieback, which is a disease that has infected the forestry population of Ireland. Ash dieback is a quite a serious disease, particularly in the midlands and a lot of the Ulster region. Let me explain my reason for asking the Leader to raise the issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. His Department closed the scheme to tackle the problem in February 2018 and continued to tell people who have been affected by ash dieback that it will open the scheme next month but that been promised for the last year. I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the Minister and ask him to come here to discuss the matter. I have discussed the issue before and Senator Boyhan is well in tune with it. Ash dieback seems to have become a serious issue, particularly in the midlands. As this is National Tree Week, which is an initiative that calls on people to plant trees, forestry is a topical issue at present. A lot of forestry and certainly ash plantations in the midlands have been decimated by ash dieback.

I wish to raise a curious query. There has been a lot of talk, particularly by a Deputy in the area, about a new bridge being built in the town of Newbridge as part of a national plan. I ask the Leader to ask the relevant Minister and then inform me whether there are plans afoot to build a new traffic bridge in Newbridge, as touted by some local Deputies. I would appreciate if the Leader will bring me up to speed on the matter.