Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to prevent the spread of dieback chalara affecting ash forestry here; the studies undertaken by his Department on the way in which this disease commenced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47346/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The first confirmed finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland was made in October 2012 in a forestry plantation in County Leitrim which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe. Shortly thereafter all the recently planted ash trees on that site were destroyed under Departmental supervision. The ash trees on another 10 sites where trees from the same batch of imported plants were planted out (approximately 33,000 plants in total) were also destroyed.

In March 2013 the Department, continuing its efforts to attempt to prevent the spread of the disease, introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to remove infected ash and restore forest areas planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by disease. These findings of infected plantations continued to increase, as ash dieback disease was found over much of the country. In April 2018 Minister of State Doyle announced a Review of the National Response to ash dieback disease as it became increasingly evident from continued findings supported by the latest scientific advice that eradication of ash dieback disease is no longer feasible. Given this position, the Department has taken the view that its policy response must also change to one of living with the disease. While the Reconstitution Scheme is no longer available as it is under review, forest owners affected by ash dieback disease can avail of support under the Woodland Improvement Scheme. The review of the Reconstitution Scheme is nearing completion and the results of that review and the consequent approach in terms of management of the disease going forward will be available in the near future.

My Department has organised various information events since ash dieback disease was first identified in October 2012 including an All Ireland Chalara Conference and nationwide public meetings. Advice continues to be provided by my Department’s Inspectors to foresters in the public and private sectors on the biology of the disease and recognition of symptoms as well as on the procedures around the clearance of affected forest plantations and infected nursery stock. Inspectors also regularly provide briefings for or attend information meetings for landowners and other relevant stakeholders and representative groups such as the IFA, the GAA, and the Ash Society.

The origins of ash dieback disease are not certain but scientists have suggested the disease may have been introduced to Europe from eastern Asia. The fungus which causes the disease has a complex life cycle. Infection first makes its way into a tree when the spores of the fungus are carried in the air and land on healthy leaves over the summer months. The fungus then grows into the leaves and down into the leaf petiole or rachis, and progressively into twigs, branches, and the stem.

Where the disease is already present in a locality further local spread is likely to be caused by spores borne on the wind, each year travelling many kilometres from the original source. There is also a risk of introducing the disease into a locality where it is not yet present (and where that locality is at a considerable distance from an existing source of infection) by bringing already diseased ash seeds or plants into that area for the first time.

There are a number of simple and practical steps which can help avoid the further spread of the disease. For example before leaving a forest where ash trees are present, landowners and other visitors are advised to remove all plant debris such as leaves etc. from clothing and footwear. Plant material should not be removed from such sites and where the presence of the disease is suspected, and the following hygiene measures should be observed:

- Footwear: Wash off all plant and soil debris from boots. Spray your boots with disinfectant and dispose of any used water onto an area where the water will not run into a watercourse.

- Clothing: Check all clothing for any plant material.

- Tools & equipment: Wash off all plant and soil debris and apply disinfectant afterwards. Dispose of any used water onto an area where it cannot enter a watercourse.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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251. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to protect broadleaf forestry from the spread of plant diseases such as chalara in view of the environmental benefits of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47347/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Harmful forest pests and disease can be readily transported from one country to another. Harmful organisms may be associated with a variety of internationally traded plants, plant products including wood and wood packaging material such as crates and pallets which can be associated with goods of any kind. In order to address this potential threat of introduction of a harmful organism in this manner and to protect the health of Ireland’s forest resource there is comprehensive legislation in place, specified in the EU Plant Health Directive, (Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community) which describes inter alia particular import requirements for a range of commodities from origins where the presence of harmful forest pests and disease is known to occur.

The aim of the legislation is to protect the national forest estate against the introduction and spread of exotic forest pest and disease threats, through the implementation of import controls. Import controls relate to a variety of forest plants, wood and wood products and wood packaging material (which may be associated with goods of any kind). Wood products subject to import control by my Department include sawn wood, roundwood logs, fire wood and wood chip for biomass. Wood packaging material controls are largely targeted at products considered to pose a high plant health risk such as cut stone.

In addition to import controls, my Department carries out forest health surveys for a variety of harmful organisms including a range of Protected Zone pests and other organisms regulated on an EU wide basis in forests and forest nurseries throughout the country. Within the context of the requirements of the EU Plant Health Directive, disease management policy is determined following the outcome of further surveys to confirm the extent of a disease and consultation around best practice in dealing with this disease.

In addition to the work carried out by the Department, forest owners, forest nursery staff, and members of the public are asked to be vigilant for disease and report (with photographs, if possible) any sites where there are concerns about unusual ill health.

Specifically in terms of ash dieback my Department has organised various information events since the disease was first identified in October 2012 including an All Ireland Chalara Conference and nationwide public meetings. Advice continues to be provided by the Department’s Inspectors to foresters in the public and private sectors on the biology of the disease and recognition of symptoms as well as on the procedures around the clearance of affected forest plantations and infected nursery stock. Inspectors also regularly provide briefings for or attend information meetings for landowners and other relevant stakeholders and representative groups such as the IFA, the GAA, and the Ash Society. A Reconstitution Scheme, which is currently under review, was introduced by my Department in March, 2013 to remove infected ash and restore forest areas planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by disease. While the Reconstitution Scheme is no longer available as it is under review, forest owners affected by ash dieback disease can avail of support under the Woodland Improvement Scheme. The review of the Reconstitution Scheme is nearing completion and the results of that review and the consequent approach in terms of management of the disease going forward will be available in the near future.

Finally there are a number of simple and practical steps which can help avoid the further spread of forestry harmful organisms such as ash dieback disease. For example before leaving a forest where ash trees are present, landowners and other visitors are advised to remove all plant debris such as leaves etc. from clothing and footwear. Plant material should not be removed from such sites and where the presence of the disease is suspected, and the following hygiene measures should be observed:

- Footwear: Wash off all plant and soil debris from boots. Spray your boots with disinfectant and dispose of any used water onto an area where the water will not run into a watercourse.

- Clothing: Check all clothing for any plant material.

- Tools & equipment: Wash off all plant and soil debris and apply disinfectant afterwards. Dispose of any used water onto an area where it cannot enter a watercourse.