Press release
Minister Hackett announces new Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, has today announced the opening of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme: Module 3 – Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant, which will provide support to forestry contractors and timber hauliers for the purchase of new forest machinery that will optimise environmental performance.
Minister of State Hackett said:
“This new grant will assist with the procurement of modern, efficient and increasingly specialised machinery and equipment required for forest operations, and is essential to ensuring that the forestry industry can continue to be safe, productive and sustainable. The new machinery supported under this scheme - for example in the area of cable extraction systems - will be more efficient and better for operator safety, and will ensure that the industry continues to manage the environment in a responsible and sustainable manner. I am also pleased to note that innovative forest machinery solutions for the clearance and extraction of trees from reconstitution sites, including those impacted by ash dieback disease, will be eligible for funding under the scheme."
A total of four projects, at a maximum of €50,000 per project, will be funded per annum. More than four projects may be considered for grant aid each year where the total available annual budget is not exceeded.
Minister of State Hackett concluded:
“This grant for new forest machinery reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable and diverse forestry industry, with the capacity to deliver on its enormous potential for the environment, for people working in the industry and for the wider rural economy.”
ENDS
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.
Applications are invited from professional forestry harvesting and transport contractors with a minimum of two years’ experience.
Eligible sustainable forest harvesting machinery includes, but is not confined to, any of the following:
• Innovative forest machinery solutions for the clearance and extraction of trees on reconstitution sites, such as those impacted by ash dieback. Other innovative forest machinery that optimises safety, fuel consumption and environmental performance may apply on a case-by-case bases.
• High lead cable systems with an operating range of 150-200m;
• Skyline Cable Systems with an operating range >300m;
• Gravity Cable systems for use on steep slopes with an operating range <300m
• Low ground pressure tracked mobile equipment optimised for use on peat soils and steep slopes.
• Winch systems designed to support conventional equipment on steep slopes. Auto load tensioning systems on timber trucks to improve operator safety, road safety and sustainability of timber transport
Module 1 of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme is designed to offer support for the purchase and installation of central tyre inflation systems to forestry transport vehicles and will open shortly. Module 2 offers investment aid for the development of the forest tree nursery sector and a third tranche of support will be open for applications in the coming weeks.
The Specification document and application form are available to view on gov.ie - Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027
Applications may be emailed to ForestryOnline@agriculture.gov.ie
The closing date for applications is 5pm on 4 February 2025