Support urged for farmers dealing with ash dieback along public roads
The "burden" of ash dieback should not be left with landowners, a Fine Gael TD has said.
Deputy Joe Cooney is urging the government to provide financial assistance for farmers and landowners dealing with ash dieback along public roads.
This is despite Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae ruling out any form of support scheme.
Deputy Cooney said farmers are "very concerned" about the growing number of diseased ash trees along public roads, warning that landowners were being left with "significant costs" to remove dangerous trees.
"It wasn't of their making in fairness to them," the Clare TD said.
"Unfortunately, the trees are affected, and it has been left as their responsibility, which is not good enough for those farmers."
Deputy Cooney has asked Minister Healy-Rae if he will consider, in the interests of public safety, undertaking a coordinated scheme on a pilot basis, through local authorities, to undertake the removal of ash trees with ash dieback along public roads.
The minister said recently that since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, his department has provided support to owners of grant-aided forests impacted by the disease.
This support is currently through the Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 and the Climate Action Performance Payment Scheme.
"In relation to roadside trees, Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road," the minister said.
"It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this.
"The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal of dangerous roadside trees is the responsibility of the local authority, in its capacity as the relevant road authority.
"My department does not offer funding for the removal of roadside trees or trees outside of forests but has published guidance - 'A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees'.
"This publication provides information on how to identify trees that have ash dieback and outlines specific issues related to health and safety in tree work."
