Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1749. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a survey has been done on sites affected by ash dieback to ascertain whether the soil is infected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63246/22]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1750. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans that are in place to compensate the landowner if their land's soil is infected on a plantation containing ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63247/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1749 and 1750 together.

Following the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback disease in October 2012, on imported trees used in forestry plantations, my Department has carried out surveys for the disease every year. In addition to forest surveys, my staff conducted surveys in horticultural nurseries, garden centres, private gardens, roadside landscaping and farm agri-environment scheme plantings. These surveys have not to date included a survey of the soil. The disease is now widespread in all counties of Ireland.

Ash leaf litter forms a critical part of the life cycle of the ash dieback disease Hymenoscyphus fraxineus.Although it is thought H. fraxineuscan survive freely in the soil in the absence of ash tissue (litter), there is currently little science or information relating to spore survival time of H. fraxineusin soil and no clear evidence supporting it as a primary pathway.

Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland in 2012, the Department has supported owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash Reconstitution Scheme and subsequently the reconstitution and Under-planting Scheme.

Both of these schemes contain two broad financial support (grant) elements namely site clearance and reconstitution/Underplanting. Species other than ash are used for the replanting.

It is intended to continue to offer a Reconstitution Scheme through the next Forestry Programme which will cover the period from 2023-2027, subject to State Aid Approval

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine currently has no plans to offer compensation where soil is infected with ash dieback disease.