Doyle Announces Payment of €33m to Forest Owners

Andrew Doyle T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, has announced the commencement of the 2020 forestry premium payment to Irish land-owners. The payments, which are tax-free, will issue today to over 7,000 forest owners amounting to a total of €33.24 million.

Minister Doyle commented that “this year’s forestry payments have commenced early and total payments issued exceed the payments made at the same time last year by almost 30%. This tax-free payment illustrates that forestry remains a very viable long-term investment option for farmers providing a regular income stream for up to 15 years after planting and a stable market for timber. This farm-forestry model also allows farmers to diversify their income while still maintaining livestock if they wish. I would encourage all farmers to consider the options provided under the current Forestry Programme and discuss the range of schemes with their agricultural advisor.’

This payment run also represents a 40% increase in terms of forest owners who applied for premiums compared to last year and reflects the success of the move to a fully online application system. The benefits of the online system are a faster turnaround time and a simpler application process. The success of the roll-out of the system, which included Departmental information clinics at various locations, a dedicated helpdesk, and support from Teagasc and private agricultural advisors to landowners, is evident in the numbers who have now registered online.

Payments will continue each week and forest owners who have not submitted their online applications so far, can apply online for their forestry premiums through the Department’s Online Services website.

Note for Editors

Further information about the supports available to landowners under the Forestry Schemes can be found on the Department’s website: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/

A dedicated helpdesk is also available at 076 106 4437 or forestservicepremiums@agriculture.gov.ie

Teagasc will be operating a series of Forestry Advisory Clinics nationwide in January where one-to one advice will be available from experienced Teagasc Forestry Advisors for existing forest owners and landowners who are considering forestry for the first time. For clinic dates and contact details see here.

The Forestry Programme 2014–2020 sets out an ambitious plan to increase Ireland’s forest resource. The bulk of the available funding is to support the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme which provides grants to cover the cost of planting and forest maintenance, along with annual forestry premiums for 15 years, to all land owners who plant new forests and woodlands. Eligible broadleaf woodlands can be as small as 0.10 hectare, while the minimum area of eligible conifer forests is 1.00 hectare. There is an obligation for newly planted forests to include at least 15% broadleaves and higher grants are available for broadleaf planting. Forests and woodlands planted for commercial, environmental, aesthetic and amenity purposes are eligible for support under the Scheme.

A county breakdown of the payment per county is attached below.

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