Ash dieback should be treated as ‘national emergency’ – report
Article by Joe Mag Raollaigh, RTÉ
A new report into the handling of ash dieback disease by the State has called for the disease to be treated as a national emergency, with a taskforce to be set up to clear infected trees and re-establish plantations.
The report, commissioned by Minister of State for Forestry Pippa Hackett, and published following today’s Cabinet meeting, says it should be made clear to tree owners that the cost of site clearance and replanting should be borne by the State, while they retain any residual value from the trees.
It also recommends an ex-gratia payment should be considered for plantation owners in recognition of the absence of an effective State ash dieback scheme between 2018 and 2023, as well as a bespoke ash die-back re-establishment annual payment.
The report states ash dieback has impacted very severely on landowners who availed of grant-aided planting of ash over the past 35 years, causing very real anguish for owners, their families and the industry.
It also states there is an acceptance that the disease is irreversible at this point and that the action required is the urgent clearance of the diseased woodland and agreed decisions on the future use of the lands…
Read the full article on RTÉ – https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/1003/1408621-ash-tree-review-scheme/
