Ash dieback not as severe as many had feared

Experts in the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service have held out hopes that ash dieback disease can be contained in Ireland.

While new infections have been detected, they haven’t been as severe as many had feared.

Up to November, 2014, there were confirmed findings of ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) in 41 forestry plantations (including 13 in 2014); 17 in horticultural nurseries (three in 2014); four in garden centres (three in 2014); four in private gardens (three in 2014); 21 in farm or agri-environmental planting (three in 2014); 24 in roadside planting (seven in 2014); and two in hedgerows (both in 2014).