McConalogue: €17.2m allocated in 2024 for ash dieback supports
In the region of €17.2 million is available this year to forest owners to support the removal of ash dieback, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Minister Charlie McConalogue has outlined that under the Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme (RADS) there is annual funding available this year of €4,060,700.
In addition to this there is also €13,187,500 under the Climate Action Performance Payment (CAPP) scheme.
According to the minister almost 16,000 hectares of ash forests were grant aided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) from 1990.
In response to a parliamentary question tabled by Fianna Fáil TD, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister McConalogue confirmed that all of these forest owners are eligible to participate in the reconstitution scheme and apply for a Climate Action Performance Payment (CAPP).
The minister also highlighted to Deputy Murnane O'Connor, that "enhanced replanting grant rates under the new 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," he added.
In addition to this Minister McConalogue provided details to deputy of the funding allocated for reconstitution schemes under the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 - of which the RADS will be paid from.
The Climate Action Performance Payment, which totals €5,000 per hectare, will be paid in three instalments to grant-aided ash forest owners who clear their sites and replant through either a previous Ash Dieback Reconstitution Scheme or the current Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023 to 2027.
However forest owners have repeatedly expressed frustration about the scheme, which they claim does not fully compensate, in many cases, for the costs associated with the safe removal of the diseased tree.
The Climate Action Performance Payment (CAPP) has also come in for criticism from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) national farm forestry chair.
According to Padraic Stapleton the CAPP scheme "excludes farmers with ash trees in their plantations that were not part of their initial plantation plan".
