Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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738. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support available to landowners who have suspected or confirmed Dutch elm disease. [57387/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Dutch elm disease is a fungal disease the impact of which is to cause the infected elm tree to wilt and die. It is spread by bark beetles which carry the fungus from tree to tree and can also be spread through root contact.

Wych elm (Ulmus glabra) is the only native elm species in Ireland and is susceptible to Dutch elm disease. English elm (Ulmus procera) is also very susceptible. Once abundant species in the Irish landscape, it is uncommon to find mature living elm trees nowadays, following the impact of the introduction of a highly virulent species of Dutch elm disease thought to have occurred in the late 1960s.

As a result of the huge impact of Dutch elm Disease, few mature elm now remain in the woodland and wider landscape context and currently my Department does not provide support for landowners who have trees suspected or confirmed to be infected with Dutch elm disease. Teagasc is currently involved in some research work the objective of which is to establish a collection of Irish elm genotypes resistant to Dutch elm disease.

Landowners and members of the public are asked to contact Teagasc if they are aware of the location of mature and healthy elm trees in support of this project.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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739. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support available to landowners who have suspected or confirmed ash dieback disease on their land. [57388/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the focus of the Department's approach to the disease, and the support provided to ash plantation owners, has evolved as our understanding of the nature and scale of the disease has changed.

In March 2013, my Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore plantations established under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by the disease. Mandatory sanitation felling was a component of this approach in my Department’s attempt to eradicate the disease and support ash plantation owners.

A review of the national policy on ash dieback disease, which involved stakeholder consultation was initiated in 2018 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 to evaluate the continued relevance of the national response, and to ensure that the forest owner is provided with a broader range of silvicultural and management options. Following the completion of the review, the Department introduced the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) in July 2020.

The scheme opened for applications in June 2020 and to date there have been over 426 applications with 139 approved to date, which demonstrates a healthy interest in the Scheme.

The Department will continue to keep ash dieback under close review, but our focus is very much on implementation of the current Scheme and engaging with applicants.