Budget 2025 Cut a Further Setback for Farm Forestry – IFA
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton has expressed his dissatisfaction at the 17% decline in funding for the forestry sector in Budget 2025. “This cut in funding sends a really poor signal to the forestry sector at a time when confidence is already at an all-time low,” he said.
The forestry sector has been allocated €91 million in funding in Budget 2025 compared to €110 million provided to the sector in Budget 2024. This calls into question the Government’s commitment to their pledge to cover over 17% of the country in forestry by 20230. “The reduced funding is to support the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 and to provide for the Ash Dieback Reconstitution Scheme and the Ash Dieback Climate Action Performance Payment. It is disheartening at a time where farm forestry is looking for more financial support to see the €19m reduction compared to last year,” said Mr. Stapleton
“With the pause on timber imports from Scotland, there is an urgency for certification to be processed in a prompt manner. The additional funding could have been used to resource the certification process along with many other forestry areas in need.”
“Week on week, the national dashboard figures indicate the future of farm forestry is bleak unless the Government makes radical changes to the Forestry Programme and resources the sector with much-needed funds,” he concluded
