Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae, TD, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting forest owners in the wake of significant storm damage, as the Windblow Taskforce completed its third meeting. The Taskforce has now confirmed that estimates show nearly 24,000 hectares of forest have suffered windblow damage—more than twice the annual cut—prompting urgent discussions on increasing harvesting capacity and mobilising resources, including potential overseas support.

Following the meeting, Minister Healy-Rae acknowledged the scale of the challenge, stating:

“We now have an approximation of the damage done, and the focus must be on ensuring the sector has the capacity to manage this crisis. Our discussions today centred on expanding the workforce needed to plan, harvest, transport, and market this timber. I commend all involved in the Taskforce for their proactive and constructive engagement, and we will continue working systematically to address the challenges faced by affected landowners.”

The Minister also reassured forest owners that those with the necessary licenses can proceed with clearance and replanting without fear of being disadvantaged in future assistance schemes:

“I know many forest owners want to move quickly to recover their losses. While discussions on additional support are ongoing, I can confirm that any work undertaken now will not affect eligibility for potential future assistance.”

At the meeting, Minister Healy-Rae launched two enhanced decision-support tools—the Tree Volume and Carbon Calculator and the Felling Decision Tool—which will assist forest owners in making informed management decisions. These tools provide key financial insights, helping assess timber revenues over a forest cycle and weigh the risks of early felling versus potential further windblow damage.

Speaking on their importance, the Minister said:

“A demonstration today highlighted the major difference in value between a 22-year-old and a 32-year-old crop. The Felling Decision Tool will be particularly useful for those with partially damaged forests, helping them determine the financial impact of clearing a site versus allowing trees to mature further.”

The Minister also encouraged affected landowners to engage with industry bodies such as The Irish Forest Owners, Teagasc, and SEEFA, which are actively providing guidance through events and one-on-one clinics. “I strongly urge forest owners dealing with wind damage to attend these events and arm themselves with the best possible information.”

Source: gov.ie - Minister Healy-Rae gives reassurance to forest owners on any future supports