The Republic’s upcoming government has the opportunity to remarkably reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enforcing policies that encourage the application of timber in construction, says Forest Industries Ireland (FII), a lobby group. FII is a fraction of the business organisation, Ibec, and raises concerns over the reduction of forestry funding from €110 million to €91 million in the 2025 Budget, indicating a decrease in activity and a problematic direction for the industry.
The lobby group has released a manifesto before the likely general election in a few weeks time, imploring the new government to advocate for timber construction. It suggests that this should be achieved via environmentally friendly public procurement and the revitalisation of the Republic’s timber industry.
FII has singled out the State for lagging behind other European Union (EU) counterparts in green construction. It points to other European Governments which are actively encouraging the utilisation of timber through legislative measures and public procurement.
FII’s manifesto has also illustrated that 50% of new public structures in France must be constructed from timber, highlighting the Paris 2024 Olympic Village, which employed 45% timber in its construction. The lobby group also notes that about 12% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions are the result of construction.
FII’s director, Mark McAuley, has emphasised the need for greener building practices and noted the significant impact on emission reduction when timber is used in construction, relative to masonry.
However, Mr McAuley has also stressed the importance of continued tree planting to ensure a sustained future in timber homes. He has raised concerns over the Government’s current policy of increasing forestation, which stands at a mere 2,000 hectares per year.
Finally, FII’s manifesto is advocating for incentives to be provided to farmers to cultivate more trees, a streamlining of bureaucracy and faster licencing processes. The group is seeking a shift away from across-the-board environmental limitations that exclude large swaths of land suitable for forestation in competition with agriculture.
Support for conifer agriculture, the economic powerhouse of the industry that yields the suitable timber for sawmill production of building materials and other business-related timber items, is being advocated. The Forestry Investment and Innovation (FII) has also suggested that the forthcoming government establishes a new, self-governing forestry institution to bolster and progress the industry.
McAuley points out that Ireland trails behind international counterparts when it comes to green construction. He cites Europe as an example where timber construction receives government stimulus through sustainable procurement practices and suitable construction regulations.
Concurrently, the Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland has lately cautioned the diminishing issuance of new forestry licences by the State. Irish regulations necessitate licences for both the cultivation and cutting down of trees, in addition to the construction of roads for the transportation of timber from the woodlands.