Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2026
269. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes to forestry legislation and associated schemes since 2014 which have affected compensation arrangements for forest disease outbreaks and the treatment of forestry within agricultural support systems; and if he will provide details of those changes. [44822/26]
View answerMy Department has historically provided financial support to owners of forests impacted by qualifying disease outbreaks, such as those affected by Ash Dieback. Since the launch of the first Ash Dieback supports in 2013, over €31 million has been paid out to beneficiaries.
The current Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 includes the following features:
• 100% increase in the site clearance grant rate, from €1,000 to €2,000.
• Enhanced replanting grant rates under the current Forestry Programme 2023-2027
I would encourage all ash forest owners who have not yet reconstituted their forest to apply under this scheme.
The legal basis for such Reconstitution schemes offered by my Department is established under Section 6 of the Forestry Act, 2014. Each scheme iteration contains bespoke terms and conditions and operates in accordance with the relevant State Aid rules.
While funded through the Exchequer, all forestry schemes must comply with European Union State Aid rules. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) contains a general prohibition on the use of State aid. However, it allows for several policy objectives and circumstances that may be considered compatible with the internal market, such as for significant disease outbreaks.
The criteria for State Aid to the Forestry Sector is outlined within the Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas, in conjunction with the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation (ABER). Aid in the favour of forestry must comply with strict criteria, which is outlined and assessed separately to agricultural supports.
State Aid rules in place from 2014 onwards do not facilitate for compensation arising from disease outbreaks or other adverse events. Instead, the rules facilitate aid towards the reconstitution of the damage and the restoration of the forestry potential.
