Minister of State Healy-Rae announces next tranche of Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant
- Published on: 22 August 2025
- Last updated on: 22 August 2025
Minister of State for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae TD, has today announced the opening of the second tranche of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme: Module 3 – Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant.
Minister Healy-Rae said:
“This grant will continue to assist with the procurement of modern, efficient, and increasingly specialised machinery and equipment for forest operations. The new equipment and machinery supported under this scheme will be a benefit not only in terms of productivity and sustainability, but will also provide for better operator safety, ensuring that the forestry industry can continue to operate safely."
The scheme will provide support to forestry contractors and timber hauliers for the purchase of new forest machinery that will optimise the performance of forest operations.
Minister of State Healy-Rae continued:
“Innovative forest machinery solutions eligible for funding under this scheme include the clearance and extraction of trees from reconstitution sites, such as those impacted by ash dieback disease. This scheme should also assist in increasing the harvest capacity of the sector, which can allow for the better mobilisation of windblown timber following storms Darragh and Éowyn.”
The objective of this intervention is to encourage the availability of sustainable timber harvesting, extraction and transport equipment in the marketplace to protect water quality and deliver on environmental and operator safety objectives.
The closing date for applications is Thursday, 23 October 2025. Further information on how to apply is available on the Department’s website.
Notes
Under the new Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant, aid will be payable at the maximum rate of 65% on the accepted net cost of capital investments. The minimum investment which will be considered for grant aid is €5,000 excluding VAT. The maximum grant aid level which will be considered is €50,000 excluding VAT.
The Specification document and application form are available to view on Innovative Forest Technology Scheme - Module 3: Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant
Applications may be emailed to Approvals.ForestService@agriculture.gov.ie