Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1464. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to expand the reconstitution and underplanting the ash dieback scheme to include forestry not part of one of the four referenced schemes in section 6.6 of the scheme outline of June 2020; if consideration has been given to expanding the scheme to include forestry over 25 years old and if not, the reason for the 25 year limit; if his Department is limited to only provide funding in relation to existing schemes; if consideration has been given to a similar scheme for forestry that falls outside of the criteria; the reason for prioritisation of more recently planted forestry rather than older forestry and associated biodiversity; if all correspondence, reports, briefings and materials relating to the matter will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22418/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2018, my Department announced a review of the national response to Ash Dieback Disease as it was increasingly evident from experience and the latest scientific advice that eradication of Ash Dieback disease was no longer feasible. The focus of the review was on the policy approach and associated support schemes, considering the move away from Ash Dieback eradication and bringing ash plantation management into focus. The review included further consideration of damage level evaluation together with inclusion of a broader range of silvicultural and management options. This new approach was circulated for stakeholder consultation in December 2019 and a total of 18 submissions were received in reply.

All submissions were carefully considered, and a number of meetings held with stakeholders to finalise a new scheme document. It was decided during scheme design to focus resources on plantations under 25 years as most ash plantations beyond this age would have attained some size and therefore would be of some commercial value.

The Department does however provide some options for ash plantations 25 years and over that are affected by Ash Dieback disease. Under the Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS), two thinning interventions are available for these plantations. Where the owner has already received funding for the first intervention (€750/ha), grant aid of €500/ha is available for a second intervention. Another option for plantations 25 years old and over is to consider switching to a continuous cover forestry management regime. Under Element 2 of WIS, forest owners may be eligible for three tranches of €750/ha over 12 years or two if funding for a first thinning under WIS was received.

My Department does not have any plans to amend the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme.