Ash dieback crisis in Leitrim persists as funding gaps remain

Calls were raised once again on the issue of addressing ash dieback, which has impacted ash trees in Leitrim for over 10 years and has significantly spread throughout the county and country.

Ash dieback, a fungal disease affecting ash trees, was first identified in Leitrim in 2012 and has rapidly spread across Ireland, expected to kill most ash trees within the next 20 years.

At a meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Enda Stenson asked what progress has been made in securing funding to remove ash trees along regional and local roads that are deteriorating due to the disease.

Cllr Stenson has raised concerns over ash dieback before, most recently in November, when he urged the local authority and the Department of Transport to establish a plan to begin removing affected trees.

At this month’s meeting, he noted that there is funding to remove ash dieback trees for forest owners, but not for farmers.

He also remarked how it was once illegal to fell the trees, yet they are now collapsing from decay.

“You could go half a mile down a road and see 20 ash trees that are now dying, and they’re dangerous, there’s no question about that,” Cllr Stenson said.

“It’s not just a Leitrim problem, it’s a national problem and that’s why I put down the motion,” he added.

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A response from the Roads department stated that the Council had written to the Department of Transport previously, and the most recent reply from June 2024 says the implementation of the legislation and the management of hedge cutting operations is the responsibility for local authorities and landowners. 

The Department has no intention to grant-aid the cutting or removal of affected trees.

Cllr Stenson requested that the Department of Transport be contacted again, saying, “no farmer can nearly afford to cut 20 or 25 of those trees and dispose of them, it’s virtually impossible.”

“They’re so dangerous on the road and destroying infrastructure, it is an active issue,” he added.

Cllr Sean McGowan shared his disappointment with the response, saying it is the Department of Transport’s duty to provide funding to the local authority to help remove the trees.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds suggested raising the issue with the Department of Rural and Community Development, which was agreed upon.

The Council will contact that department, and the Department of Transport again in hopes of finding a solution and Cllr Stenson’s motion will be circulated to other local authorities.

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