Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has announced a new Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery grant scheme up to €50,000 for operators who purchase forest harvesting and extraction machinery working in sensitive sites.
“These grants will continue to assist with the procurement of modern, efficient, and increasingly specialised machinery and equipment for forest operations,” the minister said.
The scheme is open to existing experienced operators and providers of forest harvesting and extraction services working mainly in commercial coniferous forests.
However, it will also grant aid for “forest machinery solutions for the clearance and extraction of trees on reconstitution sites, such as those impacted by ash dieback”.
A total of four projects up to €50,000 each will be funded per annum.
More than four may be considered for grant aid where the total available annual budget is not exceeded.
The grant includes supports for:
High lead cable systems with an operating range of 150-200m.Skyline cable systems with an operating range, greater than 300m.Gravity cable systems for use on steep slopes with a range up to 300m.Low ground pressure tracked mobile equipment 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.Other innovative forest machinery that optimises safety, fuel consumption and environmental performance may apply on a case-by-case bases. “The grant aid for skyline and other high lead cable systems will help access timber on extremely difficult and sensitive sites as this specialised machinery is often no longer available or outdated,” said Donal Whelan, technical director of the Irish Timber Growers Association.
Under the scheme, 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 while the maximum grant aid is €50,000 – excluding VAT. The scheme does not apply to conventional harvesting and forwarding machines.
Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has announced a new Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery grant scheme up to €50,000 for operators who purchase forest harvesting and extraction machinery working in sensitive sites.
“These grants will continue to assist with the procurement of modern, efficient, and increasingly specialised machinery and equipment for forest operations,” the minister said.
The scheme is open to existing experienced operators and providers of forest harvesting and extraction services working mainly in commercial coniferous forests.
However, it will also grant aid for “forest machinery solutions for the clearance and extraction of trees on reconstitution sites, such as those impacted by ash dieback”.
A total of four projects up to €50,000 each will be funded per annum.
More than four may be considered for grant aid where the total available annual budget is not exceeded.
The grant includes supports for:
High lead cable systems with an operating range of 150-200m.Skyline cable systems with an operating range, greater than 300m.Gravity cable systems for use on steep slopes with a range up to 300m.Low ground pressure tracked mobile equipment 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.Other innovative forest machinery that optimises safety, fuel consumption and environmental performance may apply on a case-by-case bases. “The grant aid for skyline and other high lead cable systems will help access timber on extremely difficult and sensitive sites as this specialised machinery is often no longer available or outdated,” said Donal Whelan, technical director of the Irish Timber Growers Association.
Under the scheme, 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 while the maximum grant aid is €50,000 – excluding VAT. The scheme does not apply to conventional harvesting and forwarding machines.
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