Forestry skills training fund opens to support sector upskilling

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The Department of Agriculture is inviting proposals for forestry training projects, with funding of up to €50,000 per initiative

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22 June 2025

Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae, has recently announced the second tranche of the open call for proposals for Forestry Skills Training.

This public call for proposals for training projects aims to expand the knowledge and capacity of various groups in the forestry sector.

Targeted groups include forestry students in higher level education, registered foresters and forestry contractors.

Announcing the call, Minister of State Healy-Rae said: “It is essential that the importance of appropriate skills training within the forestry sector is recognised, for both forestry students embarking on their forestry career and those already engaged within the forestry sector.

“This open call will help to support projects that address the current technical and safety needs of the sector, ensuring that the industry continues to operate in a safe and productive manner.”

This call has two modules, each targeting a different group within the forestry sector.

Module 1 will be aimed at training students registered on full-time forestry programmes at QQI Level 5 and above, while module 2 is for proposals aimed at training forestry professionals and others working, or considering working, within the forestry sector.

It is expected that three proposals per module, for a total of six projects at a maximum of €50,000 per project, will be funded per annum.

Applications are invited from any group or individual.

Projects should meet one of the ten training priorities identified, which are listed below:

Environmental Compliance
Forest Operator Skills
Forest Protection and Forest Health
Health and Safety
Sustainable Forest Management
Climate Mitigation in forests and timber
Adaptation of Forests, for climate change
Forestry Legislation
Forest Technology
Ecology

The training priorities are the same for both modules.

This competitive process is open to all, and applications are sought from as wide a range of stakeholders as possible, to cover each of the Training Priorities.

Forms and deadline

The Specification Document and application form are available to view on Call for Proposals Forestry Skills Training 2025-2026.

Applications may be emailed to ForestrySkillsTraining@agriculture.gov.ie.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 11 July 2025.

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