Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine today called on farmers and forest owners to be alert to the threat of ash dieback disease and to act immediately if they suspect that an outbreak has occurred.
Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by the fungal pathogen Chalara fraxinea. It has spread rapidly across much of Europe causing significant damage to ash. The disease can affect ash trees of any age and can be fatal, particularly among younger trees. There are more than fifty confirmed findings in Ireland to date.
Minister Coveney pointed out that it is “timely and important now that ash trees are coming into leaf for farmers and others to take time out to examine ash trees for any unusual signs of the Chalara disease.”
The Minister also advised that in view of the seriousness of the threat, Teagasc, in association with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will hold a nationwide series of public information meetings on the disease. These meetings will provide an opportunity for the public and in particular forest owners and farmers who have planted ash to learn more about the disease and the implications for those who planted ash. They will run from 20th to 30th May 2013 and will be held in local Teagasc offices; all meetings will start at 8pm.
Minister Coveney said: “This disease is of serious concern as ash is one of Ireland’s most important native trees. I would encourage forest owners and farmers who may have planted
ash to attend the Teagasc/DAFM meeting in your area to learn more about the disease. These meetings will provide the latest news on Ireland’s campaign to eradicate ash dieback and will also provide an opportunity for concerned members of the public to ask questions on this important matter.”
Staff from Teagasc and the Department will cover a range of topics including –
What is ash dieback?
What does it look like?
What is the current situation in Ireland?
What to do if you have a suspect tree?
What are the implications for applicants who planted ash trees?
What measures are being taken to eradicate the disease?
Full details of all the meetings planned are available on the Teagasc website or by contacting your local Teagasc office or forestry development officer. Further information on ash dieback disease can be found on the websites of Teagasc and/or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Note for editors:
A full list of the dates and venues for the public information meetings is as follows:
County Location Venue Date
All meetings at 8pm
Cavan Ballyhaise Advisory Office Monday 20 May
Clare Ennis Teagasc Office Monday 27 May
Cork Fermoy Advisory Office Moorepark Tuesday 28 May
Cork Macroom Teagasc Office Wednesday 29 May
Donegal Letterkenny Teagasc Office Tuesday 21 May
Galway Athenry Teagasc Mellows Campus, Clareen Room Wednesday 29 May
Kerry Killarney Teagasc Office Wednesday 22 May
Kildare Naas Teagasc Office Thursday 23 May
Kilkenny Kilkenny Teagasc Office Wednesday 29 May
Laois Portlaoise Teagasc Office Tuesday 28 May
Leitrim / Sligo Mohill Teagasc Office Thursday 23 May
Limerick Newcastle West Teagasc Office Tuesday 21 May
Mayo Claremorris Teagasc Office Wednesday 22 May
Meath Navan Teagasc Office Monday 27 May
Monaghan Monaghan Teagasc Office Tuesday 21 May
Offaly Tullamore Teagasc Office Monday 20 May
Roscommon Roscommon Teagasc Office Tuesday 21 May
Tipperary Clonmel Teagasc Office Wednesday 22 May
Tipperary Nenagh Teagasc Office Wednesday 29 May
Waterford Dungarvan Teagasc Office Tuesday 21 May
Westmeath Mullingar Teagasc Office Wednesday 22 May
Wexford Enniscorthy Teagasc Office Thursday 30 May