The opening of the Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant under the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 has been announced today (Wednesday, December 4).

The grant will provide support to forestry contractors and timber hauliers for the purchase of new forest machinery that will optimise environmental performance. 

A total of four projects, at a maximum of €50,000 per project, will be funded per annum. More than four projects may be considered for grant aid each year where the total available annual budget is not exceeded.

The announcement was made by Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Senator Pippa Hackett today.

Announcing the grant, Minister Hackett said it will assist with the procurement of modern, efficient and increasingly specialised machinery and equipment required for forest operations.

"I am also pleased to note that innovative forest machinery solutions for the clearance and extraction of trees from reconstitution sites, including those impacted by ash dieback disease, will be eligible for funding under the scheme," the minister said.

Under the new Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery 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 excluding VAT. The maximum grant aid level which will be considered is €50,000 excluding VAT.

Applications are invited from professional forestry harvesting and transport contractors with a minimum of two years’ experience.

Applications may be emailed to [email protected] until the closing date on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 5:00pm.

Eligible sustainable forest harvesting machinery includes, but is not confined to:

Innovative forest machinery solutions for the clearance and extraction of trees on reconstitution sites, such as those impacted by ash dieback;
High lead cable systems with an operating range of 150-200m;
Skyline cable systems with an operating range >300m; 
Gravity cable systems for use on steep slopes with an operating range <300m;
Low ground pressure tracked mobile equipment optimised for use on peat soils and steep slopes;
Winch systems designed to support conventional equipment on steep slopes.

The Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 comprises of three modules:

Module 1 is designed to offer support for the purchase and installation of central tyre inflation systems to forestry transport vehicles and will open shortly;
Module 2 offers investment aid for the development of the forest tree nursery sector and a third tranche of support will be open for applications in the coming weeks;
Module three, the Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant, offers support for the purchase of new forest machinery that will optimise environmental performance.

The specification document and application form are available to view on gov.ie under 'Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027'.