At least 5,000ha of forestry across the country has been destroyed by Storm Éowyn, according to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Michael Healy-Rae

The minister, who has responsibility for forestry, was the guest speaker at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Kerry county executive of Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in at the Rose Hotel, Tralee last night (Thursday, February 6).

"Satellite imagery is being used and foresters around the country are feeding in the information.

"We're expecting that it will definitely be over 5,000ha, but where it's going to stop we can't be 100% sure," he told the meeting.

The minister said he is expecting to have "very accurate figures" on the damage caused to forestry in the coming days.

The Forest Windblow Taskforce, which met for the first time this week, will gather again on Tuesday (February 11) to provide an update on the situation around the country.

"If we are going to assist people we must know the extent of exactly what we're dealing with," Healy-Rae said.

The minister also stressed that forestry licences issued by his department will have to be "robust" and not "open to challenge".

However, he said that extra staff will be deployed to the department section issuing forestry licences.

"We will ensure that there will be an extremely quick turnaround, but what will be issued will be free from being challenged because it will be robust and it will be sound," he added.

Minister Healy-Rae confirmed to Agriland that felling licences have already been received by the department from impacted forests.

Padraig Stapleton, IFA National Forestry Committee chair, said that the scale of the storm damage to forestry is "truly shocking".

He said he has been inundated with calls from farmers who are going through "emotional turmoil" because of the impact on their crop.

He urged to Minister Healy-Rae to declare a state of emergency for the forestry sector and apply for European Union funding to help with the cost of the work needed on plantations after the storm.

Stapleton also claimed that the minister has options available to him to ensure fallen trees are cleared up quickly.

Paudie Hannafin, who owns Ballygarron vegetable farm just outside Tralee, Co. Kerry, told the meeting how his crop of leeks was destroyed by the storm.

"I have 17 fellas working for me, I need €12,000-€14,000/week to pay them alone. The sale of leeks was always what kept them in money for the winter months," he said.

The grower said that all of the supermarkets had rejected his leeks as the crop does not meet their specifications.

He asked the minister if vegetable growers will be compensated for destroyed crops.

"At least with the forestry, it's there it's down on the ground. What do I do? Do I leave my workers go and put them into the dole office in Tralee?" Hannafin said.

Minister Healy-Rae is due to visit the Hannafin farm over the weekend to view the damage firsthand.

Earlier this week, the minister toured a mushroom farm in Co. Monaghan where a polytunnel was destroyed by the strong winds.

He said that compensation cannot be discussed until the full extent of the losses nationally is determined.

The minister also confirmed he is meeting the Horticulture Industry Forum on Tuesday (February 11) to discuss the impact of Storm Éowyn on the sector.