At least 5,000 hectares of forestry across Ireland have fallen victim to the wrath of Storm Éowyn, as revealed by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Michael Healy-Rae. The minister, who oversees forestry matters, addressed the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Kerry county executive of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) at the Rose Hotel in Tralee on Thursday, February 6.
“Storm Éowyn has left a significant mark on the country. We are currently evaluating the total cost and extent of the damage. Satellite imagery is being utilized, and foresters nationwide are contributing valuable information. While we anticipate the figure will exceed 5,000 hectares, the final toll remains uncertain,” Minister Healy-Rae informed the gathering.
He expressed his anticipation of receiving precise figures concerning the forestry devastation in the days ahead. The newly formed Forest Windblow Taskforce, convening for the first time this week, is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, February 11, to provide an updated assessment of the situation nationwide.
“If we are to provide assistance, we must have a clear understanding of the magnitude of the challenge we face,” emphasized Healy-Rae. The minister emphasized the necessity for forestry licenses issued by his department to be robust and immune to legal challenges. He assured that additional personnel would be assigned to expedite the licensing process.
“We are committed to ensuring a swift turnaround, with licenses that are sturdy and legally sound,” he added. Minister Healy-Rae confirmed that the department has already received felling licenses from affected forests.
Padraig Stapleton, Chair of the IFA Forestry Committee, described the scale of the storm’s impact on forestry as “truly shocking”. He recounted being inundated with distress calls from farmers facing emotional turmoil due to the destruction of their crops. Stapleton urged Minister Healy-Rae to declare a state of emergency for the forestry sector and seek European Union funding to aid in the necessary plantation restoration post-storm.
The grower, Paudie Hannafin, owner of Ballygarron vegetable farm near Tralee, Co. Kerry, shared the devastating blow his leek crop suffered during the storm. “I have 17 workers relying on me; I require €12,000-€14,000 per week just to cover their wages. Leek sales were crucial for their winter income,” he lamented.
Hannafin expressed frustration as all supermarkets rejected his leeks due to not meeting their specifications. He questioned the minister about potential compensation for vegetable growers facing ruined crops. Minister Healy-Rae is set to visit the Hannafin farm personally over the weekend to assess the damage firsthand.
Earlier in the week, the minister inspected a mushroom farm in Co. Monaghan where strong winds demolished a polytunnel. He emphasized that discussions regarding compensation would only commence once the national losses are fully evaluated. Minister Healy-Rae disclosed plans to meet with the Horticulture Industry Forum on February 11 to delve into the storm’s impact on the sector.
