Donal Hickey: Forestry re-think badly needed — could a €20k forestry scholarship help?

A Coillte Forestry Scholarship will award students up to €20,000 for the duration of their degree programme (€5,000 per year) to support with fees and living expenses

Coillte launches its 2025 Forestry Scholarship Programme, offering up to €20,000 per recipient, along with paid summer placements and career opportunities.  Pictured here are inaugural scholars Áine O'Dwyer (Donegal), Mia Sibbald (Kildare), and Alex Power (Waterford), with managing director, Coillte Forest, Mark Carlin. Applications are open until May 2, 2025 and the award will be made in Autumn 2025

Widespread, recent storm damage caused by falling trees has prompted a badly-needed rethink on forestry in Ireland.

Michael Healy-Rae, new junior minister for agriculture with special responsibility for forestry, certainly has plenty to be getting on with. He will be working with a task force made up of various interests involved in the area.