55 million Storm reconstitution scheme to boost confidence in forestry

Forest industries Ireland the national trade Association for the forestry and timber industries within Ibec, today welcomed the launch of the €55 million storm reconstitution scheme to support forest owners after the impact of storms Daragh and Eowyn in early 2025.

Mark McAuley, Director of Forest industries Ireland said "This support for forest owners following the immense damage of storms Daragh and Eowyn in early 2025 is a hugely welcome support for the forest sector. The scheme will pay for the replanting of forests blown down by the storms. Credit is due to Minister Michael Healy Rae and his officials in the Forest Service for getting this €55 million scheme over the line. This represents a huge vote of confidence in the forest sector and demonstrates the government’s desire to support forest owners and see the forest sector flourish into the future.”

“The storms of January 2025 had a major impact on forest owners and the entire forest products supply chain. The industry has invested in extra capacity and is working overtime to bring to market all of the downed timber. With 26,000 hectares of forest affected, this is a long and arduous process but one which the forest sector is working hard at.”

“The government and industry are doing everything they can to increase confidence in forestry. The planting of new forests increased in 2025 to 2,500 hectares and we need to continue this growth trajectory, but we still do not have enough farmers taking an interest in the afforestation schemes and following through to plant new forests.”