Forestry
A civil engineering student at University of Galway has claimed top honours in the inaugural Future Timber Design Awards 2026.
The deadline for Coillte’s 2026 Forestry Scholarship, offering students up to €20,000 across their forestry degree, has been extended.
"Unprecedented damage" caused by Storm Éowyn will likely cost Coillte more than €80 million, the semi-state forestry company has confirmed.
Rural Life
Coillte has warned landowners to avoid all outdoor fires and obey restrictions in place on land burning as temperatures climb.
An investment of over €3 million from the Department of Rural and Community Development has been announced for Coillte recreational sites.
As Ireland enters the forest fire risk danger period, the use of drone technology to support faster fire detection and emergency response is to be expanded.
Coillte said it is making "good progress" working on forestry which was damaged during Storm Éowyn last year.
Environment
Coillte has confirmed that it will donate 100,000 trees for community tree-planting initiatives across the country this year.
Coillte can ask people to give their real names and addresses if they lodge a request for environmental information an EU court has ruled.
Coillte said 20% of its forests damaged in Storm Éowyn last year have been clear felled to date with this work to continue into 2027.
Primary schools nationwide are invited to take part in a nature photography competition.
ESB Networks is continuing to work with Coillte and DAFM to identify which parts of its network are "at highest future risk".
The Green Party has today, welcomed clarification from Coillte regarding alleged large-scale illegal tree-felling in Knockbrack, Co. Cork.
Minister Healy-Rae highlighted the need to "broaden" the range of land available for planting trees at Coillte's Build with Wood conference
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued 1,693 forestry licences to farmers to date this year (September 2025).
Coillte confirms that 134,000 hectares of land have been identified to be managed primarily for biodiversity across Ireland.
The Department of Agriculture and Coillte will host a conference focusing on increasing the use of homegrown timber in construction.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued licences for 2,043ha of afforestation in the first seven months of 2025.
The government is to invest €4 million in Coillte to support new infrastructure projects by the semi-state forestry company.
Coillte has said contractors have been "subjected to threats and intimidation locally" while working on a forestry project in Co. Mayo.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued a total of 60 forestry licences last week.
Minister Martin Heydon said he has "no plans" to transfer Coillte's forestry holdings to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has said he has asked the FAC to prioritise forestry appeals concerning windblown sites.
