Intent: To acknowledge the Ministers announcement of the opening of the second tranche ‘Open Call for Proposals for Forestry Skills Training'.
Details: Forestry Skills Training
Intent: Create improvement to the Afforestation Scheme as part of the Mid Term Review of the Forestry Programme to encourage greater uptake by farmers and increase levels of afforestation.
Details: Concerns about low levels of afforestation and improving the national forestry programme
Intent: Government involvement and financial support for forest owners and the forest sector following Storm Eowyn in January 2025.
Details: Government support for the forest sector following Storm Eowyn
Intent: To acknowledge the work that Minister Healy-Rae and the department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine have carried out since storm Éowyn last January::To highlight that Ireland is not reaching its planting targets of 8,000 ha of afforestation per annum. The forestry licence dashboard figures as of the 23rd May 2025 show that only 127 ha of afforestation has been licenced. This is down from 526 ha for the same period in 2024.::To seek the opportunity to meet with Minister Healy-Rae at his earliest convenience to discuss the challenges the forestry industry is facing in the current Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027.::To discuss the urgency for the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to support the private forestry sector by providing an option for private forest landowners to be paid for their timber by metre squared similar to Coillte timber sales.::Forestry Programme 2023-2027::That the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 set back areas and regulations implemented in recent years r
Details: Forestry Programme 2023-2027
Intent: Temporary derogation from EU Cabotage rules to permit bringing in additional Haulage capacity to deal with emergency situations pursuant to Storm Eowyn
Details: Seeking temporary derogation of EU Cabotage rules
Intent: Secure government financial support for forest owners and the forest sector following the large scale damage caused to Ireland's forests by Storm Eowyn in January 2025. Financial support for replanting of damaged forests.
Details: Government support for the forest sector following Storm Eowyn
Intent: Improved communications, administration, and implementation of the national forestry programme to deliver higher annual afforestation numbers.
Details: Concerns about low levels of afforestation and improving the national forestry programme
Intent: To seek details on what contingency plans are in place and to request a meeting between the Forest Service and the industry.
Details: To highlight the urgency of a prompt and effective response to the impact of Storm Éowyn, seek clarity on what contingency plans exist and seek a meeting between the Forest Service and industry to coordinate a response to this significant event.
Intent: To secure a meeting and to obtain details regarding what contingency plans are in place to handle the impact of the storm.
Details: As a result of Storm Éowyn, to seek a meeting and request details on the contingency plans in place at the Forest Service to handle the impact of such a storm.
Intent: To emphasise that the challenges facing the Irish agriculture sector will require concerted action from all stakeholders, specifically the Government.::To stress that the viability of Irish farms and the pressures that exist for farmers must be recognised by Government.::To highlight that rising costs, increased regulation and tighter margins due to retailer dominance have all had a devastating effect on farm incomes. All stakeholders must work together to find a way to reward those who are putting in the work and investment.
Details: Farming & Food - A Sector Worth Backing
