Second case of native ash dieback
The second finding of chalara fraxinea, in native hedgerows in Tipperary, is at a location not being disclosed by the Department of Agriculture.
Ash trees were cleared within 250 metres of the plantation in Co Leitrim where ash-dieback disease was first confirmed in Ireland, in October 2012.
Originally planted with trees imported from the Continent (which were cleared in October, 2012), the Co Leitrim site is the largest known outbreak of the disease in Ireland, to date.
The Tipperary finding, in an ash hedgerow, is within 50 metres of a farm landscaping shelterbelt of ash planted eight years ago with imported plants that have also tested positive for the disease.
Department officials are carrying out a survey of the hedgerow system near this finding, before determining the extent of hedgerow to be removed to eradicate the disease. In the meantime, the farm landscaping shelterbelt is being removed.
There have been 101 confirmed findings of the disease throughout the country, including 40 in forestry plantations, 17 in horticultural nurseries, four in garden centres, three in private gardens, 15 in farm landscaping or agri-environment schemes, 20 in roadside landscaping, and two in hedgerows.
Junior Agriculture Minister Tom Hayes said “given this finding, of a second outbreak in native ash trees within a hedgerow, it is obvious that there is a major challenge in eradicating this disease. We will continue with the policy of eradication, and review this policy as further results come in from the ongoing surveys.”
He visited the site in Co Leitrim, where felling of trees in the first hedgerow-infection site has been completed, and met local landowners for their co-operation in ridding Ireland of the disease.
