Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1661.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans for a compensation scheme for farmers or landowners, not involved in forestry, to remove ash trees growing on hedgerows along public roads due to ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32057/24]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1662.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans for a compensation scheme for homeowners who are not involved in farming to remove ash trees growing on hedgerows along public roads due to ask dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32058/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1661 and 1662 together.

My Department has introduced a comprehensive Action Plan on Ash Dieback which provides comprehensive supports to landowners who planted ash plantations under a grant-aided scheme overseen by my Department.

While I am aware all landowners with ash trees are impacted by ash dieback, my Department does not have responsibility for the removal or reconstitution of Ash trees for private homeowners and landowners with ash trees in their gardens or on individual holdings who did not plant under a Departmental ash scheme.

My Department supported the Tree Council of Ireland in publishing guidelines for managing roadside trees. The document is available on the Tree Council of Ireland’s website, www.treecouncil.ie, and on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/8fb45-a-guide-for-landowners-to-managing-roadside-trees/