567. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data that informed his Department’s site clearance funding under the reconstitution and underplanting scheme; the methodology his Department used in assessing that financing as being sufficient and appropriate to cover the different needs of different forests and woodlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36835/24]

The Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback was part of the €1.3 billion package negotiated successfully for the Forestry Programme 23-27, and for which State Aid Approval was received in 2023. The Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback 23-27 includes a 100% increase in the site clearance grant and considerably enhanced planting grants under seven forest types for the planting of other species, as well as an innovative top up premium for those ash sites still due premiums under the original afforestation scheme.

All grant schemes under the Forestry Programme and their constituent payments, including the site clearance rate, were informed by economic and financial analysis including insights gained from daily engagement with cost-based applications for grant payment for all forestry operations.

An  Ash Dieback Action Plan was approved by Government in May of this year and  a Taskforce was established with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Plan. This Taskforce is a forum comprising officials from my Department and stakeholders including ash forest owners, with some useful clarifications made and actions agreed to progress the implementation of the Plan. The role of the Taskforce is to ensure that the Plan is implemented in an effective way, with a coordinated response and resolution of obstacles to implementation.

Minister of State Pippa Hackett has also launched the Climate Action Performance Scheme (CAPP) as part of the Ash Dieback Action Plan . This payment of €5,000 per hectare paid in three instalments will be available to those forest owners who have cleared their sites and replanted. The overall financial package of supports for ash owners now available amounts to a total of €237 million.