More than three quarters of forestry scheme participants received less than €5,000 in annual premium payments last year.

However, 45 applicants, or just under 0.5% of scheme members, received between €20,000 and €50,000 in premium payments. The overall number of forestry owners in receipt of payments has fallen by 19% in just four years.

The figures were released by the Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Niall Collins, in response to a written Dáil question from Martin Kenny of Sinn Féin.

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A total of 7,206 (78%) of the 9,200 forestry scheme members received a maximum of €5,000 or less, while premium payments to a further 1,604 or 17% ranged from €5,000 to €10,000.

Just 4% or 345 applicants received between €10,000 and €20,000, while 45 applicants got in excess of €20,000.

The numbers in receipt of payments of €20,000 or more has increased by 50% since the start of the decade, with just 30 applicants in this bracket in 2021.

Meanwhile, the overall number in receipt of forestry payments has fallen steadily since 2021. There were 11,321 farmers and non-farmers getting payments in 2021, but this figure dropped to 9,200 last year. This is a reduction of 2,121 forestry growers or a reduction of 19%.

The reduced number of applicants in receipt of forestry payments, and the hike in the number receiving very high premiums reflects the gradual decline in farmer involvement in forestry, and the increased level of activity by pension funds and private investors who are planting large blocks of ground.

Staying with forestry, Minister Collins pointed out that €40.4m was paid out on forestry in 2025, this was a mixture of afforestation grants and premia. This figure was back almost €7m on 2021 and €6m on 2023.

Between 2021 and 2025 forestry premium payments also fell significantly, dropping from €43.9m to €33.4m.