Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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337. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of ash that have been destroyed here as a result of ash dieback since January 2013; the number of hectares that were hedgerow; the amount that was privately owned; and the amount of that ash that was planted under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. [15528/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To date approximately 693 hectares of ash forestry plantations have been cleared and replanted with alternative species. A high proportion of the area cleared are plantations which were associated with infected imported batches but which were not necessarily infected. These associated plantations were destroyed on a precautionary basis. This work involved the uprooting and deep burial of circa 2 million ash trees since late 2012. The findings in forestry plantations were all privately owned apart from one Coillte site. Infected ash has also been destroyed by deep burial or burning in privately owned non-forestry locations such as horticultural nurseries, gardens and farm and agri-environment plantings. There have also been findings in roadsides which have been subject to eradication measures. In relation to ash planted under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme no data is available specifically for ash trees. We do know however, that 23 cases of Chalara have been found on Farm planting/Agri-environment site.With regard to hedgerows I can confirm that 4 cases of infection in hedgerows have been identified all of which are associated with sites planted with infected imported material.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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338. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the subsidies available for destroying infected ash stands or hedgerows; the persons eligible to apply for them; if there are payments for farmers/growers who are restricted on sale or movement but do not have to destroy the stock; and the amount this payment is per hectare per year. [15529/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara) supports the reconstitution of ash plantations which have suffered from or are associated with ash dieback disease caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The objective of this scheme is to:

- Eradicate the disease in forests affected by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus by supporting the removal and destruction of trees and leaf litter affected by the disease;

- Reconstitute the forest with an alternative species to ash.

Grant assistance will be in respect of costs necessarily incurred in clearing the site and reconstituting the forest, subject to the maximum limit laid down as follows:

All grant aided private forest owners are eligible to apply for the scheme. There are no payments for farmers/growers who are restricted on sale or movement but do not have to destroy the stock.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process for inspecting sites designated for destruction; the agency responsible for these inspections; and the staffing and implementation costs for these inspections. [15530/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Plant Health surveys are carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with the methodology of an international approved survey standard  (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 6, Guidelines for Surveillance). Where a site is found to be infected with ash dieback, eradication measures in plantations are carried out under a ‘Sanitation Action Plan’ which sets out the actions and biosecurity measures to be taken. Costs for the inspection works are borne under the Department’s existing administrative budget for field inspections.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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340. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been any research carried out here into Chalara fraxinea; the cost of this research; and the amount his Department spent on informing and educating growers, farmers and the general public of the disease. [15531/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Through its 2014 call for research projects, my Department is supporting a project entitled “Assessing Ireland’s risk to airborne spread of ash dieback disease with “Lagrangian stochastic models”. The aim of this project, which commenced recently, is to develop a model that predicts the spatial risk of infection of Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidusfungus (the infective agent of ash die-back disease, Chalara fraxinea). The Department has committed €67,091 to this project over a 12 month period. Research on disease resistance in ash is being undertaken by Forest Research, an agency of the British Forestry Commission; this work is being part funded by my Department. As part of this project, Irish ash plants have been planted out over a range of sites in the South East of England to test for resistance. So far the Department has contributed €14,000 towards the cost of this research. Further research is underway by Teagasc which is supported by my Department on disease resistance in ash. In 2014 Teagasc started a four year project with the aim of procuring individual trees of ash which show resistance/tolerance to Chalara. These trees will then be used to bulk up stocks of resistant trees, as well as for establishing seed producing orchards with resistant parent trees. This work is being funded from within the Department’s normal subvention to Teagasc. In terms of resources applied by my Department on informing and educating growers, farmers and the general public on Chalara, every opportunity has been taken to provide information on Ash dieback, not all of which incurred expenditure. The information measures undertaken included the provision of articles and photos for national publications, including a comprehensive article in October 2013. There was also a full page article on Ash Dieback, with photographs, in Issue No. 10 of the Forest Service News which issued in December 2012 to most forest owners in receipt of premium payments. There is also a dedicated webpage on Ash Dieback on my Department’s website which contains Press Releases and presentations about Chalara.

My Department contributes towards the annual programme of forestry promotional and advisory activities undertaken by the Forestry Development Department of Teagasc. As part of its activities in 2013, Teagasc organised, with support from my Department, 22 information meetings on Chalara which took place in late May 2013.Some 800 people attended and information was provided on what to look out for and the implications in terms of clearance of a forest plantation. Clarification was also given at these meetings on the implications for AEOS and REPS farmers where the disease is found on the trees planted under these schemes. My Department also arranged for the printing and distribution of posters showing the general public the symptoms that they should watch out for and whom they should notify about such symptoms. My Department also arranged for a full page advertisement about Chalara to appear in the programme for the All-Ireland Hurling Final in September 2013 and 2014.

It is very difficult to quantify exactly how much the Department itself spent on distributing information on Chalara as many of these activities were undertaken jointly as part of an existing budget allocation or in many other cases there were no direct costs charged to the Department.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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341. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the restrictions on the sale and movement of ash from infected countries into Ireland is monitored; and the sanctions for ignoring these restrictions. [15532/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The movement of ash plants and wood into Ireland from infected countries is regulated by the Destructive Insects and Pest Acts 1958 and 1991 (Chalara Fraxinea) Order (No. 2) 2012 [SI No. 431 of 2012]. The legislation controls the importation and movement of ash seeds, plants and wood. Imports are monitored at ports of entry. Imports from several non EU countries require a documentary, identity and plant health inspection before entry into Ireland. In addition ash is currently de-listed as an approved species under the Department’s afforestation schemes. Ash is also not approved for planting under the new Agri-environmental scheme GLAS. Planting of ash is also not permitted for National Roads Authority roadside plantings. These measures have substantially reduced the demand for ash for planting. Where a person lands ash seeds, plants and wood in the State in contravention of the legislation they must remove or destroy it in accordance with any instructions issued by my Department and shall be liable for the cost of such removal or destruction.