The Budget 2027 forestry allocation has been increased to €96.26m compared with €93m last year but is down overall compared with 2023 and 2024 when it averaged €111.5m.
This will be sufficient to fund the afforestation programme if it remains at 2,000ha which is the likely outturn for this year and 2027.
The allocation will allow the Department “to continue to invest in the sustainable development of the sector, building on progress of the Forestry Programme over the last number of years,” according to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Niall Collins.
“This funding allocation will support increased promotion of forestry as an important land use option for farmers looking to diversify and build the resilience of their farm businesses,” he said.
“The funding secured for 2027 will also continue to support forest owners impacted by the storms in 2025 through the Reconstitution scheme, which provides significant funding to clear and replant damaged forests.”
One forestry company spokesperson expressed puzzlement at the Minister’s comments that the allocation would build on “progress of the Forestry Programme over the last number of years” when afforestation has “been at its lowest for a half century” while conceding that the windblow reconstitution scheme was a “ welcome and badly needed support scheme”.
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