Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
240. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forest owners in receipt of annual premiums, by county; the total number of forest owners in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13153/26]
View answerThe grants available under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme include an annual income tax free premium payment for applicants, and these are made for a period of 20 years for applicants with farmer status and 15 years for other applicants.
The table at the link below details the number of forest owners who received a premium by county in relation to 2025 and the total number of forest owners recorded in each county for 2025 (in receipt of premium, or having already received their final premium). It should be noted that premia are paid on application by the forest owner annually and some forest owners choose to apply for multiple years periodically.
Forest owners who have not submitted their online applications so far, can still apply online for their forestry premiums through the Department’s Online Services website (www.agfood.ie). This facility remains open all year, and the department will continue to process online applications for forest premiums as they are received, with payments issued on a weekly basis.
Further information and detailed statistics on the forestry sector are available on my Department's website on the Annual Forest Sector Statistics page to be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/collections/forest-statistics-and-mapping/#annual-forest-sector-statistics
