Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Innovative Forest Technology Scheme - Module 3: Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant
Module 3 of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme supports eligible forestry contractors and not-for-profit forest owner producer groups in Ireland to purchase new, low ground impact harvesting and extraction machinery - such as overhead cable extraction systems and auto load tensioning systems for timber trucks - for use on environmentally sensitive sites. Grant aid covers up to 65% of eligible costs, from a minimum investment of €5,000 up to a maximum grant of €50,000.
- Grant range
- €5,000 - €50,000
- Funding level
- 65%
- Support type
- Grant
- Last checked
- 3 Sept 2026
About this scheme
Module 3 of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 funds new, low ground impact forest harvesting and extraction machinery not commonly used under Irish conditions, aimed at protecting water quality, the environment, and operator safety on sensitive sites with soft soils or steep slopes. Eligible technologies include high lead and skyline cable extraction systems, gravity cable systems, low ground pressure tracked equipment, winch systems for steep slopes, auto load tensioning systems for timber trucks, and innovative machinery for clearing/extracting trees on reconstitution sites (e.g. ash dieback); conventional harvesting and forwarding machines are excluded. Applicants must be either an Eligible Contractor (providing forest harvesting/extraction or timber transport services for at least 2 years) or an Eligible Forest Owner Group (a not-for-profit producer group established for more than 2 years). Aid is payable at up to 65% of accepted net costs, for investments of at least €5,000, up to a maximum grant of €50,000 per project, with around 4 projects funded per year via a competitive scoring process.
Who can apply
- Restricted to two applicant groups: (1) Eligible Contractors - any natural or legal person engaged in provision of forest harvesting and extraction services, or timber transport services, for a minimum of 2 years; or (2) Eligible Forest Owner Groups - not-for-profit forest owner producer groups that provide members with independent advice and education on sustainable forest management and have been formally established for more than 2 years
- The scheme does not apply where, in the Minister's opinion, the investment is intended for purposes other than forestry use
- Only new equipment is eligible; expenditure on second-hand equipment does not qualify
- The scheme does not apply to conventional harvesting and forwarding machines
How to apply
- Submit an application on the official Innovative Forest Technology Application Form, by post to the Preapproval Section, Forestry Division, or by email to Forest-technology@agriculture.gov.ie.
- Applications 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.
- If successful, sign and return the Grant Offer Agreement to the Department within 21 days of the offer being made.
- Purchase and install the equipment (new only) within 3 months of accepting the Grant Offer, ensuring full ownership transfers to the applicant before claiming payment.
- Submit Form 2 (Application for Grant Payment) with proof of expenditure within 4 months of signing the Grant Offer Agreement; register on the Department's Corporate Customer System (CCS) and receive payment by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), net of VAT.