The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said it "aims to deal with ash dieback fully before the end of the current Forestry Programme in 2027".

Independent TD Carol Nolan asked Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon in a parliamentary question recently about supports for forestry owners affected by ash dieback.

The minister said that an independent review group was established in 2023 to review the supports available to ash forest owners with ash dieback.

"The group submitted a report with their findings to my department and in response, government approval was secured for an Ash Dieback Action Plan which addresses all 13 of the review group's recommendations," he said in his response.

"It provides for, among other things, an additional €79.5 million in funding to pay for a new Climate Action Performance Payment.

"This payment of €5,000/ha is available to forest owners who fully engage with my Department's reconstitution schemes and carry out replanting.

"This brings the overall financial package of supports available to over €230 million."

An ash dieback taskforce was established in 2024. It is comprised of relevant stakeholders including representatives of ash forest owners.

Its purpose is to provide for effective engagement with those affected by ash dieback, facilitate a coordinated response, and support the swift implementation of the plan.

The minister said that it held its first meeting in May 2024, and has met five times overall, and is scheduled to meet four times per year until the end of 2027.

"The taskforce continues to be a useful forum for discussion around the implementation of the Reconstitution Scheme and the associated Climate Action Performance Payment with members contributing many useful recommendations," he added.

"I am pleased to report that in the past 18 months, Reconstitution Scheme approvals have issued for over 3,450ha and payments of more than €11 million have issued to ash forest owners.

"My department aims to deal with ash dieback fully before the end of the current Forestry Programme in 2027."