Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason funding is being provided for only 2000 ha under the windblown reconstitution scheme when it is estimated that 8,000 ha were affected. [26259/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Storm force winds occurred on 12 separate days between the 5^thDecember 2013 and the 12^thFebruary 2014. The most severe windstorm, named ‘Storm Darwin’, occurred on the 12^thFebruary 2014. The frequency and ferocity of these storm events, compounded by waterlogged soils on many sites, led to extensive damage on private and State-owned forest lands. Under the Reconstitution Scheme (Windblow), the State will make a financial contribution towards the cost of replanting these sites as a once-off measure for this specific weather event.

Using RapidEye satellite imagery, the extent of the damage caused by this weather event was estimated to be in the order of 8,000 ha of which 75% is owned by Coillte; the remainder is privately owned. As the scheme is only open to privately owned forests, the total eligible area has been fixed at 2,000 ha.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1607. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for funding can be made under the windblown reconstitution scheme; and when funding will be released once an application has been made. [26260/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Reconstitution Scheme (Windblow) will provide financial aid to land owners whose plantations were damaged by storm force winds that occurred between 5th December 2013 and 12th February 2014, with the most severe windstorm, named ‘Storm Darwin’, occurring on 12th February 2014. The State will make a financial contribution towards the cost of replanting these sites as a once-off measure for this specific weather event.

Completed applications can be submitted to the Department until the closing date of 24^thFebruary 2017. Following administrative checks and site visits where necessary, approvals will issue shortly thereafter. Payments are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2017.