Small-scale forestry schemes gain Government funding

Irish ministers have revealed that they have provided Euro 800,000 worth of funding to businesses and other organisations involved in the forestry sector.


Mary Wallace, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, revealed that a total of 20 different projects were selected to receive Government support.

The scheme aims to encourage businesses and other organisations to contribute to the sustainable development of forestry through pilot projects, studies and initiatives.

In particular, the Government grants aim to support relatively small scale, short-term projects which do not fit readily into other department schemes.

“The range and variety of initiatives submitted clearly demonstrates the imagination and enthusiasm which exists within the forest sector, and the extent to which our forests feed into so many aspects of modern Ireland,” said Ms Wallace.

Some of the projects which gained funding included support for the establishment of a number of woodland owner groups in Counties Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Wicklow, a project to promote thinning in the south-east and a number of projects relating to the supply of wood chip.

Recently, a new training initiative that focuses on providing skills training for the forestry industry was launched by the Government and industry groups.

James Cooper

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