Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to make required funding available to nurseries to help combat and prevent the spread of ash tree disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44349/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Over the last number of years the Department has operated a Reconstitution Scheme to restore forests established under its afforestation schemes back to their original form following significant damage by natural causes. The Scheme has been used to assist forestry owners who have been affected by Ash dieback disease. The objective of the Scheme is to eradicate/contain ash dieback in forests by supporting the removal and destruction of trees and leaf litter and to reconstitute the forest by replanting with alternative species. The Scheme provides funding in respect of costs necessarily incurred in clearing the site and reconstituting the forest, subject to the maximum limits laid down. The Scheme is restricted to forestry and currently there are no plans to either broaden the scope of the Scheme or to introduce any other Scheme for individuals or nurseries that have been affected by outbreaks of plant diseases including ash dieback.

My Department continues to provide funding for the development of the horticultural industry including commercial nurseries through the Horticultural Grant scheme. In the recent budget I allocated €4.5 million for the Scheme in 2016 and the Scheme is currently open for applications until the 18 December of this year.