The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has welcomed the reopening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

Last Friday, February 14, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon announced the targeted reopening of the horticulture grant, alongside Minister of State for forestry, horticulture and farm safety, Michael Healy-Rae.

The ministers announced the response to the unprecedented damage caused to the horticulture sector by the storm in January, 2025.

IFA Horticulture chair, Mark Walsh said: "There was positive engagement with the new Minister of State with responsibility for horticulture, Micheal Healy-Rae, at the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF) meeting in Backweston last week and the swift reopening of the scheme is a positive step."

The scheme will reopen on a targeted basis to deal only with growers who are considering investment in response to the damage caused by the storm.

“The reopening of the scheme will alleviate some of the financial pressure on growers to restore structural damage of buildings," Walsh said.

"However, it will not cover any crops lost or consequential losses, which also had a huge impact on growers,” Walsh said.

Although it is difficult to calculate total losses, the IFA, the Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI), and Teagasc have estimated that €4.46 million is the initial impact on growers.

The budget for the reopening of the scheme was not disclosed in the minister’s announcement.

The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector operates on an annual basis and the 2025 scheme initially closed for applications last December.  

The scheme will provide grant aid at a rate of 40% for approved capital investments, and 50% for young farmers and licensed organic growers.

To facilitate efficient administration of applications, the closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, March 7.