Some €23.5m in annual forestry premium payments are making their way to 6,500 farmers and landowners, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.

Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said on Wednesday that payments were issued last week to forest owners who applied for them through www.agfood.ie.

The payment provides an annual forestry premium of up to €1,142/ha to establish a plantation for periods of 15 to 20 years.

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Minister Heydon said these payments are an important support to forest owners.

“Together with the grants available to assist in the establishment of new plantations, they provide a significant support to maintaining and continuing to expand Ireland’s forestry,” he added.

'Contact your adviser'

Minister Healy-Rae said he would strongly encourage those thinking of getting into forestry to speak with neighbours who have forestry and to contact a registered forester or a Teagasc forestry adviser.

“The current Forestry Programme pays at the highest rates ever available to forest owners and there is a range of planting options available for everyone from small-scale native woodlands, to agroforestry, to continuous cover forestry,” he added.

Forest owners who have not submitted their online applications so far, can still apply online for their forestry premiums through www.agfood.ie.

This facility will remain open all year and the Department will continue to process online applications for 2026 forest premiums as they are received, with payments being issued on a weekly basis.