Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide compensation, reconstitution grant aid and annual forest premiums for forest owners impacted with the fatal Ash dieback disease and if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18535/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback Disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineaus) in Ireland was made on 12^thOctober 2012 at a forestry plantation site which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe.

In March 2013, the Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from, or which were associated with plants affected by disease.

Following a Review of the National Response to Ash Dieback Disease arising from scientific advice and evidence that eradication of ash dieback disease is no longer feasible the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) was launched in June 2020.

A total of €9.25 million has been expended to date on both schemes. These schemes included a grant for site clearance as well as replanting.

Last month, I launched an Interim Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback via general de minimis which contains a doubling of site clearance rates, increased grant rates and an improved premium regime. The interim scheme includes the following enhanced features:

• Enhanced site clearance grant rate, increased to €2,000.
• Enhanced grant rates as per draft Forestry programme 2023-2027
• Those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premium due for the remaining years.
• In addition, for those in receipt of farmer rate of premium, a top up premium equal to the difference between the equivalent forestry type and the existing premium will be paid. This will be calculated for the remaining years left in premium and paid in a single sum.

A similar scheme for the reconstitution of ash dieback will be launched as part of the new forestry programme.

State Aid Guidelines provide for aid for the restoration of damage to forests caused by a variety of events including damage from disease and pests. State Aid rules are explicit that this aid is for restoration and does not facilitate compensation for other loss, including income. There are 7,000 hectares of grant aided ash which remain in premium for periods ranging from one to eleven years.

My Department continues to review the operation of the ash dieback scheme, having regard to its effectiveness, the status of the plantations, state aid regulations and other issues having regard to the age and stage of the rotation of the almost 16,000 hectares of ash that were grant aided between 1999 and 2013.