It has been just over a year since I took office and in that time, while we have faced significant challenges, we have also made real progress in strengthening supports for our farmers and landowners as we continue our work to restore confidence in Irish forestry.

Storms Darragh and Éowyn caused unprecedented damage to forests around Ireland last year, with 27,000ha being blown down. In response, I established the Forest Windblow Taskforce, and made sure storm-related felling and road licences were prioritised. Those affected private forest owners will soon be able to receive financial aid to replant their damaged forests through a €55m Reconstitution Scheme.

We are also continuing to manage the impact of the ash dieback disease. Since the launch of the first supports in 2013, over €27m has been paid out to forest owners across both the Ash Dieback Reconstitution Schemes and CAPP.

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Licensing

Despite these challenges, 2,527 hectares of new forests were planted last year, which is a significant increase on 2024. Our licensing turnaround times have dramatically improved, with most licences now processed in under six months, and we currently have over 4,000 hectares of new forests licensed and available for planting.

It is also very important that the State and public sector lead by example. Last year, I personally wrote to 82 public bodies to launch the Planting on Public Lands initiative encouraging all public organisations with land to create new forests. This is proving to be a huge success and my Department is already engaging with over 30 public organisations across the country.

To ensure our farmers and landowners are supported to take up our schemes, my Department has completed a new communications and engagement strategy. Through this strategy we will promote the full range of values that forestry provides, from being a source of sustainable wood to driving rural economies, contributing to climate action and biodiversity, and supporting mental health and well-being.

Mid-term review

To support landowners on their journey to becoming forest owners, my Department has recently concluded its mid-term review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. This was undertaken in conjunction with our Forest Strategy Consultative Committee, which represents a wide range of stakeholders from the sector. In response to the feedback, we are introducing targeted improvements to our existing schemes and measures which include increased grant rates and allowances to Fencing and Deer Tree Shelter Schemes, increases in agroforestry premium rates, and a range of improvements to supports such as training, processes and systems.

This programme provides a wide range of choices for the creation of new forests, the sustainable management of existing forests, forest roads, technology, the conservation of native woodlands, and climate resilient reforestation.

Farmer definition

To support the new opportunities the mid- term review provides, I also worked with my Department to simplify the farmer definition which means that forestry applicants will now simply have to pass the Department’s “Active Farmer check” and have received a valid payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme prior to the completion of planting. This will lessen the burden for applicants, whilst keeping a protective mechanism in place.

Further, and to support the delivery of this vision, our Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme has recently launched, which will pay forest owners to upskill their knowledge on one of two dedicated focus areas – Sustainable Forest Management or Forest Management Plans and Forest Certification.

Certification

We also need to ensure that we can make good commercial use of the timber we produce and so forest certification has been an area of focus for my Department this year. I want to bridge the certification gap between large scale forest owners and smaller privately owned forests.

We recently launched the iPLAN Scheme which is an online tool for registered foresters to help private forest owners create detailed forest management plans. Along with financial support, iPLAN will make it easier for forest owners to meet the standards required.

I also want to make the certification process cheaper. I have appointed an industry-led board to establish Group Forest Certification Ireland as a National Certification Scheme.

This will provide a clearer, more affordable pathway for the majority of Ireland’s private forest estate to enter the verified timber market.

Timber in construction

Another area of focus has been the use of timber in construction. We will soon bring the final report of the Timber in Construction Steering Group to Government. This inter-departmental and industry working group was established to expand the use of timber in construction while ensuring safety, compliance with regulations and maximising the use of home-grown timber. The final report outlines recommendations and a roadmap for implementation.

This is an exciting and pivotal time for forestry in Ireland. I would encourage farmers to consider forestry as an option in terms of their overall farm business. With our enhanced supports, attractive rates and increasingly efficient systems, there has never been a better time to invest in forestry and be part of shaping its future.