Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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234. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualifying criteria for forestry schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29060/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Reconstitution Scheme (Windblow) was launched on the 6th September 2016. The scheme provides 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’, on 12th February 2014. A maximum grant of €1,700/hectare up to a total of 10 hectares will be made available under the Scheme for both conifers and broadleaves. Conifer plantations planted after the 1st December 1989 and broadleaf plantation planted after the 1st December 1983 are eligible for grant aid.

Applications for the scheme will be accepted up to the 24th February 2017. The budget allocated to the Scheme can provide funding in respect of a total of 2,000 hectares. In the event of applications received exceeding that amount, a selection process will be undertaken after the closing date for receipt of applications in an effort to ensure that funding is allocated on an equitable basis to favour those forests which suffered the greatest loss.

The application forms and further details regarding the scheme can be found on the Department's website at .