Ash dieback disease spreads nationwide as 120 cases confirmed

The ash dieback disease, known as chalara fraxinea, which was identified for the first time in Ireland in 2012, has spread countrywide.

A total of 120 cases have been confirmed. Some 47 of these were in forest plantations and 21 were in nurseries and garden centres.

Another 21 cases were found in farms. Four were identified in private gardens, 25 in roadside plantings and two were in hedgerows. A total of 14 cases were confirmed in 2014.