Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 - Module 2: Investment Aid for the Development of the Forest Tree Nursery Sector

About this scheme

Module 2 of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 aims to enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of domestic production of native tree species for Ireland's forestry sector, covering seed collection, seed storage, polytunnel infrastructure, irrigation, transplanting systems, grading machines, biosecurity investments, related professional fees, and native tree seed costs. It is open to private and third-sector suppliers of forest reproductive material of native tree species, who must be registered suppliers under EU/Irish forest reproductive material regulations and show a viable business plan. Aid is payable at up to 100% of accepted net costs, up to a maximum grant of €250,000 per project. DAFM plans to fund around 4 projects per year, assessed and ranked through a 3-step, 1,000-point scoring process. Applications are made on the official Module 2 form by post or email; successful applicants sign a Grant Offer Agreement, complete the investment, and claim payment with proof of expenditure, subject to a 5-year restriction on disposing of the funded equipment.

Who can apply

• Applicant must be a private or third-sector organisation supplying, or intending to supply, forest reproductive material of native tree species for forestry purposes
• Must be registered as a supplier of Forest Reproductive Material under SI No. 618/2002 (transposing EU Directive 1999/105/EC)
• Investments must support domestic production of the native tree species listed in the scheme document; production for ornamental, horticultural, or other non-forest end uses is excluded
• Minimum investment considered for grant aid is €10,000 (excl. VAT), reduced to €2,000 (excl. VAT) for tree seed collection projects
• Only new materials and new specialised nursery/seed-collection equipment are eligible; second-hand equipment, repairs, and maintenance are not eligible
• Must demonstrate commercial viability via a business plan covering a minimum of 2 years
• Where the investment involves a fixed structure (e.g. polytunnels) requiring planning permission, permission must already be granted by the application closing date
• Applicant must not have sought or received other National or EU funding for the same expenditure items
• Applicants who received funding under previous tranches of the scheme must demonstrate additionality to be eligible again

How to apply

1. 1Submit an application on the official Innovative Forest Technology Scheme Module 2 Application Form, by post to the Preapproval Section, Forestry Division, or by email to Approvals.ForestService@agriculture.gov.ie.
2. 2Applications are evaluated in three steps: (1) a pass/fail document completeness check; (2) a detailed project assessment scored against 4 criteria out of 1,000 marks, requiring 500+ to pass; (3) where the scheme is oversubscribed, passing applications are ranked and funded by highest score against the available budget.
3. 3If successful, sign and return the Grant Offer Agreement to the Department within 21 days of the offer being made.
4. 4Complete the investment, then submit Form 2 (Application for Grant Payment) with proof of expenditure, a location map of the investment, and (for tree seed/planting stock projects) proof of species origin and provenance, by the scheme's stated payment deadline.
5. 5Register on the Department's Corporate Customer System (CCS) and receive grant payment by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), net of VAT.