Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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321. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ACRES applicants who have applied for the tree planting measure in the scheme; the estimated number of plants required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18775/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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322. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ACRES applicants who have applied for the tree planting measure in the scheme, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18776/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.

ACRES is the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme which is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. Participants in ACRES commit to undertake, under their ACRES contract, certain actions for a period of five years.

There are two approaches within ACRES – an ACRES General approach offering a range of General Actions for farmers; and a Co-operation Project approach, available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas.

Within the range of ACRES actions from which farmers could select at the time of application, there are a number of tree planting options.

The following table relates specifically to the numbers, by county, who availed of a "Tree planting" action:

No of herds with ACRES action "Tree Planting"

Each applicant was permitted to select the appropriate number of trees for their own application within the parameters of a maximum of 300 and a minimum of 10 if chosen as a general action, and a minimum of 100 if chosen as a priority action.

The specific requirements in relation to each of the tree planting actions may be found in the ACRES Tranche 1 Specification document available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/ACRES.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the number of applications made to the ash dieback replanting scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18801/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications made to the ash dieback replanting scheme which have been processed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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325. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of successful applications made to the ash dieback replanting scheme; the total amount of funding paid out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18803/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 to 325, inclusive, together.

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 in County Leitrim 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 980 applications for 3,783ha have been made under this scheme. Of these, 390 approvals for 1,239ha and one refusal for 10ha have issued. There are currently 589 applications for 2,534ha still being processed.

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.

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.