European Commission approves afforestation measures in Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. and Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, Senator Hackett Pippa Hackett, have welcomed the European Commission’s announcement that it has granted State Aid approval to the afforestation scheme under Ireland’s new Forestry Programme.

The Forestry Programme is a €1.3 billion investment by the Government in Irish forestry for the next five years from 2023-2027 which required State aid approval by the Commission.

Welcoming the Commission decision, Minister Hackett said, “The Commission’s approval of our afforestation programme is a hugely significant milestone in our longer term vision out to 2050 to increase our forest cover as a critical part of the State’s Climate Action Plan.

“The new €1.3 billion Forestry Programme is the best-funded, most environmentally friendly programme in the history of the State.

“It has been designed so that planting trees can deliver for farm incomes, for climate, for biodiversity, for water quality, for recreation, for rural economies, and for the production of high quality timber for use in our homes and other buildings of the future.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, commented, “Farmers are absolutely central to the success of our overall forestry strategy. Reflecting that ambition, our new Forestry Programme is designed to attract and reward farmers ahead of any other landowners.

“This Government’s policy is to provide farmers with the biggest opportunity to benefit from the forestry payments this programme can deliver.

“I fully appreciate that confidence in the sector has been damaged but this Programme, that will see farmers get 20-year premiums at an annual rate up to 66% higher than previous programmes, will reinvigorate the sector and support our climate action targets.”

The new Programme provides for increased premiums for planting trees of up to €1,142 per hectare depending on the forest type, as well as extending the premium period from 15 to 20 years for farmers. Others will receive premiums for 15 years.
It offers a broad range of planting options and the rates are 46%-66% higher than the previous Forestry Programme.

The total budget for the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 is €1.3 billion.

This includes establishment grants for afforestation as well as annual premium payments for 20 years for farmers who sign up to the Programme between 2023 and 2027, and 15 years for non-farmers who do so.