Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2024
566. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the adequacy of the current reconstitution and underplanting scheme in light of the identification of the pseudips mexicanus, known as the Monterey pine engraver, alongside the larch beetle in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36834/24]
View answer569. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the preventative measures that were in place prior to the discovery of the larch beetle in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36837/24]
View answer570. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the preventative measures that were in place prior to the discovery of the Monterey beetle in Clare and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36838/24]
View answer571. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the locations where the larch beetle and the Monterey beetle have been discovered in Ireland; the restrictions that have been placed in Ireland on the certification and other use of timber sourced from those locations and the requirement and impacts this will have on local foresters; the supports to be put in place to assist in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36839/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 566, 569, 570 and 571 together.
My Department found three Ips cembrae beetles (common name: large larch bark beetle) in one of its pheromone traps in Passage West Port in Cork.
Passage West port is used for the importation of roundwood logs from the Pest Free Area (PFA) in western Scotland. Ips cembrae was never found or intercepted in Ireland in the past, despite longstanding annual surveillance. The export of logs from the PFA has ceased following this finding until a full investigation takes place. Additional surveys are being carried out in the vicinity of the port but there have been no further findings.
My Department found Pseudips mexicanus beetles (common name: Monterey pine engraver) in several pheromone traps near Cratloe Co. Clare. To date no source of these Pseudips mexicanus beetles has been identified. A 10km Demarcated Area was established around the Pseudips mexicanus findings. Within this Demarcated Area restrictions on the felling and movement of pine species now apply. This is to ensure that untreated pine wood and pine wood products can only leave the demarcated area under the control of the Department for treatment and not for direct trade to other parts of the island or for export. The Department is working to facilitate the movement of pine logs with bark out of the demarcated under controlled circumstances.
Affected forest owners in the demarcated area have been contacted directly by my Department with further information. An information day was held by my Forestry Inspectorate officials onsite with forest owners in April. My Department will continue to keep stakeholders informed as new information comes to hand and as the timber movement protocols are developed.
Import restrictions apply to host commodities of both Ips cembrae and Pseudips mexicanus .
Currently my Department operates a Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme. This applies to ash plantations and covers financial support to clear and replant the ash forest with different tree species. There is scope under the Forestry Programme to offer support on phytosanitary and other grounds, such as frost or drought damage. Should a breeding population of Pseudips mexicanus or Ips cembrae be discovered and eradication measures such as felling and destruction of trees be required, I would consider the option of introducing an appropriate Reconstitution Scheme, subject to the normal budgetary considerations.
