It is estimated that a "comprehensive package of financial and administrative measures" arising from a forestry review will amount to €3.5 million for the sector for 2026.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae has provided detail on how that funding will be allocated.

He did so in response to questions from People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, Richard Boyd Barrett.

What is the Forestry Programme?

The Forestry Programme is the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy to 2030.

Under the programme, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine provides funding and schemes to support farmers and landowners to establish and maintain their forests, in alignment with core strategy principles.

Minister Healy-Rae said: "The programme offers generous incentives for farmers and other landowners to diversify their income streams.

"To reflect this, the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 pays farmers a premia for 20 years compared to 15 years for non-farmers across most forest types with newly planted forestry, also qualifying for the Basic Income Support Payment Scheme."

What was the forestry mid-term review?

The minister recently published the results of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Forestry Programme.

"This was undertaken in consultation with the Forest Strategy Consultative Committee (FSCC) which represents a broad range of Forestry stakeholders," the minister said.

"Submissions from the FSCC allowed my department to review the existing schemes, measures and costs by gathering feedback from those who have direct experience of implementing them on the ground."

What extra funding been allocated in 2026?

The minister said it is estimated that the "comprehensive package of financial and administrative measures arising from the MTR" will amount to approximately €3.5 million for 2026.

He outlined that this is allocated across the following priority areas:

Increases to fencing grant rates and allowances, and agroforestry premium rates for the Afforestation Scheme;
Increases to fencing rates and allowances and expansion of the Deer Tree Shelter, Hare and Deer Fencing Scheme;
Increases to fencing rates for the Native Tree Area Scheme;
Increases to grant rates for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot and Forest Road Schemes.

Minister Healy-Rae said that while income is "not the only consideration in deciding land use by farmers, these incentives offer an attractive option to farmers to plant forests as part of their farm enterprise".

"I am confident that these improved financial incentives, increased scheme flexibilities and proactive engagement activities arising from this MTR will offer sufficient supports to enable landowners, including farmers, to plant and manage their forests in a way that is most suitable for their requirements," he said.

What else was highlighted in the MTR?

Additional highlights from the MTR include:

Launch of two new agroforestry pilot schemes (Silvoarable pilot and Forest Gardening pilot);
Addition of an Alluvial Woodland option when establishing a native forest through the Afforestation Scheme;
Targeted changes to the administration of certain schemes in response to stakeholder feedback on identified challenges;
Plans to deliver training and practical guidance to address identified issues and strengthen understanding of forestry standards, practices, and programme requirements;
A continued commitment to proactive stakeholder engagement.

What change has there been to farmer definition?

Minister Healy-Rae has reviewed the farmer definition within the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 with a "view to reducing administrative burden on farm families".

To do this, he said he has worked with his department to "simplify the farmer definition".

This means that an applicant will now "simply have to pass" the department’s 'active farmer check' and have received a valid payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme prior to the completion of planting.

"This will lessen the burden for applicants, whilst keeping a protective mechanism in place," Minister Healy-Rae said.