Forest owners, forest contractors and timber hauliers can now apply to the second tranche of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme for grant aid on purchasing sustainable forest harvesting machinery.

The scheme will pay out grant aid of up to 65% on the net cost of eligible capital investments.

A minimum investment cost of €5,000 ex-VAT must be reached for an investment item to be considered for aid, with a €50,000 ex-VAT grant ceiling also in place.

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Opening the scheme, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Michael Healy-Rae said the grants are intended to assist in the procurement of “modern, efficient and increasingly specialised machinery and equipment” used by foresters.

“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,” he stated.

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.

Some of the eligible machinery items eligible for grant aid are those used for the clearance and extraction of trees from reconstitution sites, such as those impacted by ash dieback.

Minister Healy-Rae also stated that the scheme should assist the forestry sector with dealing with the continued storm-blown fallout from storms Darragh and Éowyn.

The scheme will close to applications on Thursday 23 October.