INDEPENDENT councillor Jerome Scanlon put forward a motion to Limerick City and County Council that the government provide funding for hardwood forestry owners impacted by the ash dieback disease.
Cllr Scanlan told the Council that up to 400 forestry owners have been impacted by the disease in Limerick, “many of whom are elderly who on retiring from traditional farming were encouraged to plant”.
He said they are now facing “rotting trees and very little support from the various promoting agencies low-to-no value produce”.
“Many in their 80s had planned to avail of forestry supports to supplement income into retirement.
They are now faced with the dreadful stress and cost of reinstating land without the support they deserve from our national government,” he said.