31-07-2025
Heydon briefs Cabinet on Forestry Programme
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon brought a memo to Cabinet today (July 29) outlining how his department has engaged with all public bodies who own land, encouraging them to consider planting trees under the National Forestry Programme.
Speaking after Cabinet, Minister Heydon said that a land use review carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) Forest Service has established that there is a "large bank" of land in public ownership.
Public bodies manage at least 8% of national land area and have a critical role to play in delivering on the objectives of the State while also achieving their own sustainability goals.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety, and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae believes the government, at all levels, must "lead by example".
Minister of State Healy-Rae said he has written to every local authority, state agency and government department that has land, to outline the full range of options available under the programme.
In addition to writing to each public body, DAFM has produced an outreach leaflet setting out the attractions of forest type 3, forest creation on public lands, as well as other forestry schemes.
Minister of State Healy-Rae has invited all public bodies to contact DAFM, and promised to provide tailored supports to help identify suitable sites, as well as technical guidance to assist in advancing proposals under the programme.
The new Afforestation Scheme 2023 - 2027 also offers landowners, including local authorites, a broad range of planting options, with grants covering the cost of the establishment of a forest and increased yearly premium payments for up to 15 years.
Minister of State Healy-Rae said: "This offers them an opportunity to convert this underutilised land into long-term green assets, and step-step guidance is available from my Department on how to do it.'
"The forestry sector employs nearly 9,500 people and is worth over €2 billion to the economy. It contributes to local jobs and the rural economy by providing a supply of sustainable raw material."
"Forests are also an important local amenity and support our mental and physical health and wellbeing, as well as helping us to achieve our climate goals. I am calling on all public bodies to get in touch and start working with us," the Minister of State added.
