A public call for proposals for training projects that will expand the knowledge and capacity of various groups in the forestry sector has been announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
This open call for proposals for Forestry Skills Training 2024-2025 has two modules, each targeting a different group within the forestry sector:
- Module 1 will be aimed at training students registered on full-time forestry programmes at QQI Level 5 and above;
- Module 2 is for proposals aimed at training forestry professionals and others working or considering working within the forestry sector.
It is expected that three proposals per module, for a total of six projects at a maximum of €50,000 per project, will be funded per annum, according to the DAFM.
More than six projects may be considered for grant aid each year where the total available annual budget is not exceeded. The training priorities are the same for both modules.
Applications are invited from any group or individual, the DAFM said. Projects should meet one of the eight training priorities identified, which are listed below:
- Environmental Compliance;
- Forest Operator Skills;
- Forest Protection and Forest Health;
- Health and Safety;
- Sustainable Forest Management;
- Climate Mitigation and Adaptation of Forests, including timber;
- Forestry Legislation;
- Forest Technology.
The specification document and application form are available to view on the DAFM’s website under ‘Call for Proposals Forestry Skills Training 2024-2025’.
Applications may be emailed to [email protected]. The closing date for applications is at 5:00p.m on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
Announcing the call for project proposals today (Monday, September 16), Minister of State at the DAFM, Senator Pippa Hackett said:
“Appropriate skills training is essential to ensure the forestry industry continues to be safe and productive, and also to ensure that the industry continues to manage the environment in a responsible manner.”
“Investment in forestry skills training will ultimately contribute to the goals of sustainable forest management. It will also ensure workers are trained to a high standard while reducing their risk of injury,” Minister Hackett said.