Govt encourages forestry with tax-free grant scheme

Yellow_Fern

"Farmers and landowners who are willing to plant a single hectare of broadleaf forest are entitled to a tax-free grant of more than €22,000 over 10 years under a new scheme promoted by the Government.

The Native Tree Area Scheme will pay to plant a hectare of broadleaf trees on land used for farming, whether or not the owner is a farmer.

A second hectare will be allowed if establishing trees along a suitable water course.

Unlike other forestry developments, which require licences from the Department of Agriculture, no planting license is needed although the services of a registered forester will be required to ensure trees are correctly sited and managed.

The Minister of State responsible for Forestry Pippa Hackett said the scheme is now open and applications are already being made for new broadleaf plantations to be established before the end of this year.

"This scheme has been designed to have a straightforward approval process, which means that it is now open for new native forests to be planted before the end of 2023 under this scheme," Ms Hackett said.

A report into the handling of ash dieback disease by the State, published earlier this week, has called for the disease to be treated as a national emergency, with a taskforce to be set up to clear infected trees and re-establish plantations.

The report, commissioned by Ms Hackett, says it should be made clear to tree owners that the cost of site clearance and replanting should be borne by the State, while they retain any residual value from the trees.

Ms Hackett said she intended to implement all 13 of the report's recommendations.

She said that State aid rules are quite clear in relation to compensation for any sort of lost income from future trees and what the value might be when it comes to new forestry plans.

Apply to plant a forest is the call on landowners and especially farmers this National Tree Day - as the Government ramps up the new €1.3 billion euro forestry programme with its many grant-aided forestry schemes.

"Annual premium payments and revenue from any timber sales are free from income tax, making forestry an attractive investment now and for the future," the Government said."

https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/1005/1409158-forestry-scheme/

Cran

if you plant a hectare under the native scheme do you lose BISS on that hectare?

farmqi28

From my understanding no, but you won't get organic payment. it seems like a decent scheme I'm thinking of planting a hectare myself.

kollegeknight

Payment is over 10 years rather than 20.

It’s not a major hike on payments when you look at it that way.

jfh

Anyone know the grant for fencing for this per metre, tia