A new reconstitution scheme has been launched to support private forest owners whose plantations were damaged by Storms Darragh and Éowyn.

Minister of State for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, confirmed the scheme will provide grants to landowners for replanting with conifer or broadleaf species, or a mix of both.

Satellite imagery assessments show that 26,050 hectares of forestry were damaged during the storms in the winter of 2024–2025, with almost 13,000 hectares in private ownership. Minister Healy-Rae said the scale of damage was unprecedented, with the volume of timber normally felled over two and a half years blown down overnight during Storm Éowyn.

“This scheme contains an attractive package to enable payments to forest owners for replanting their damaged forest areas,” he said. “Landowners who have already replanted, or are in the process of doing so, are eligible to apply retrospectively once they satisfy the qualifying criteria.”

Minister Heydon said the scheme would be vital in helping landowners restore their forests’ potential. “I encourage all private forest owners affected by Storms Darragh and Éowyn to avail of this comprehensive reconstitution scheme,” he said.

The level of support will depend on whether the forest was insured at the time of the storms. Grant rates will mirror those available under the Department’s Afforestation Scheme. Payments will be made in two instalments, with 75 per cent in the year of replanting and the remaining 25 per cent after four years.

Applications will open in early 2026 and must be made through a registered forester. Applicants will need a valid felling licence, with licence conditions continuing to apply.

The Forestry Windblow Taskforce, established after the storms, has already met seven times and is coordinating the safe mobilisation of wind-damaged timber. The Department said the new scheme complements existing supports under the Forestry Programme, which include grants for climate resilience, reforestation and skills training.