The next round of funding under the Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant has officially opened for applications.

Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Niall Collins today (Friday, July 10) confirmed that the next version of the scheme is now available.

The scheme provides support to eligible forestry contractors and timber hauliers for the purchase of new forest machinery and timber transport equipment.

Minister Collins said this new tranche has been opened up to a wider range of applicants and will include forestry producer groups, licenced hauliers, as well as forestry contractors.

"We need more of these, and I hope the sector can continue to invest in a sustainable and productive future in this way," the minister added.

Forestry machinery grant

According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine  under the new Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant, aid "will be payable at the maximum rate of 65% on the accepted net cost of capital investments".

DAFM said the minimum investment which will be considered for grant aid is €5,000 excluding VAT.

The maximum grant aid level which will be considered is €50,000 excluding VAT.

The department also outlined that the scheme specifically provides support to eligible forestry contractors and timber hauliers for the purchase of new forest machinery and timber transport equipment that will optimise the performance of forest operations.

DAFM said funding is also available towards the purchase of on-board automatic load tensioning systems for timber trucks.

"The adoption of this technology will help make timber transport safer and more fuel efficient," it added.

The closing date for applications to the scheme is 5pm on Tuesday September, 15 this year.