Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2024
308. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis upon which site clearance grants under the RUS scheme was determined as reflecting a cost of €2,000 per hectare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26809/24]
View answer309. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis upon which the climate action performance payment has been capped at €5,000; his views on how this cap does not reflect the additional cost incurred in removing older trees as opposed to younger ones; if he intends to review this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.
Under the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback, the Site clearance costs were actually doubled , from €1,000 to €2,000 per hectare. These grant costs were approved by the EU Commission under the new forestry programme last year and have been accepted as reasonable by the independent group who reviewed ash dieback supports.
The Climate Action Performance Payment Scheme is an additional payment which recognises the action of clearing sites and replanting and the contribution that these actions make to climate change mitigation measures. The payment is not related to the cost of actions/operations under the reconstitution scheme. In arriving at this payment my Department was cognisant of the need for fairness, equity and value for money under the public expenditure code, the requirements under State Aid Regulations, and national and international deforestation obligations.
The entire financial package for addressing Ash Dieback is in excess of €230 million which is a significant commitment by government towards dealing with this challenging issue.
