A delegation from ICSA recently met with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae. With special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety, and Horticulture, the Minister engaged with ICSA representatives on a range of pressing issues, with particular focus on the fallout from Storm Éowyn and the future direction of forestry policy.
The severe damage caused by Storm Éowyn earlier this year dominated much of the discussion. The storm flattened over 26,000 hectares of forestry, with the worst impacts felt in the west and northwest. Around half of the windblown area is privately owned – mainly by farmers and landowners, many of whom had planted trees for the first time as a diversification measure.
These forest owners now face immense financial and logistical challenges, made worse by their lack of experience in timber sales and the complexity of forestry regulations. ICSA stressed that without comprehensive State support, confidence in forestry as a viable land use option will collapse entirely.
We reiterated the urgent need for reconstitution grants and pressed for protections to ensure that growers are not exploited in a volatile timber market. We made it clear that how the government responds now will determine the future of Irish forestry and whether new landowners will be willing to plant trees in the years ahead.
In addition, ICSA highlighted the need to make smaller-scale, farmer-friendly forestry options more attractive. We raised the potential of the Native Tree Area (NTA) Scheme and Agroforestry, both of which provide low-risk, sustainable alternatives for drystock farmers particularly when combined with the Organics Scheme. We called for enhanced grant aid and improvements to annual payment structures – including extending the number of years that payments are made – to ensure these schemes deliver fair and long-term returns. While they contribute to biodiversity and climate goals, they must also work economically for farmers. A brief overview of the NTA and Agroforestry schemes can be found on pages 3 & 4.
The meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to raise concerns around farm safety. ICSA pressed for broader access to TAMS funding to help farmers – especially older or lower-income individuals – invest in essential safety upgrades. We stressed that practical supports are needed to reduce risk and improve conditions on family farms.
Minister Healy-Rae took all of our concerns and proposals on board and expressed a genuine willingness to work with ICSA and other stakeholders to find practical solutions. It was a positive and productive exchange, and ICSA will continue to press for meaningful supports to help farmers recover from Storm Éowyn and to ensure that forestry and farm safety measures are viable, sustainable, and farmer-led.
