Call for Proposals
FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT
Funded by the Irish Government
under the
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2007-2013
Notes for Applicants
2007
May 2007
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NOTE
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS BOOKLET IS PROVIDED AS A GUIDE AND
SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS A LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF EU REGULATIONS.
The Department of Agriculture and Food has issued a Call for Proposals for funding under
The National Development Plan 2007-2013. This brochure provides background information
and guidance for applicants under that Call.
Payments under the Scheme will be subject to the terms of Commission Regulation (EC) No.
1998/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to de
minimis aid published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 28.12.2006 L379.
FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT
The overall objectives are to contribute to the sustainable development of forestry. Particular
objectives include:

Support pilot projects, studies and initiatives concerned with forestry development

Support for projects concerned with improved and innovative plant production
techniques

Support projects aimed at developing innovative use of forest products and by-products
and alternative timber use

Promote forestry as an alternative and environmentally compatible land use
PROJECT TYPE
The Forest Service is particularly interested in receiving proposals for projects that have the
capacity to contribute to the social, economic and environmental benefits of forestry. The
issues the Forest Service would like to see addressed in the current round of funding include:

Conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Irish forests

Active management of woodland

Recreational Amenity

Alternative timber use (in particular the potential for reducing dependence on fossil
fuels)

Innovative schemes to implement Sustainable Forestry Management

Alternative silvicultural systems, including agro-forestry.

Impact of climate change on Irish Forestry

Marketing and promoting synergy between forestry and other areas of economic and
social activity
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Proposals of a research nature should be submitted to COFORD, The National Council for
Forest Research and Development. For further information on COFORD’s funding
programmes, contact COFORD, Arena House, Arena Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, Tel: 012130725; Fax: 01-2130611; E-mail: [email protected] or visit the website at www.coford.ie.
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APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and Food is now seeking submissions
from interested parties for support funding towards projects which fulfil the outlined
objectives.
Applications will be considered from individuals, organisations and corporate bodies.
Applications will only be accepted on the official Application Form (Form 7) and should be
prepared in accordance with guidelines outlined therein.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 5 PM, Wednesday
27th June 2007.
PROJECT SELECTION
Applications for funding will be selected by reference to the following criteria:
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the capacity of the proposal to fulfil the objectives of the call.
the need for the proposed project;
degree of innovation shown;
value for money;
estimated impact on development of forestry sector;
effects on the environment;
impact on the level of general public awareness and positive attitude to forestry;
the availability of funds.
The selection process will take at least six weeks from the closing date for applications. All
applicants will be informed of decisions by post.
Grant Aid Level:
Aid rates will vary, depending on the number and nature of the proposals received. In
general, aid will not exceed 75% of the total cost of the project to a maximum of €75,000.
Tax Compliance procedures.
Successful applicants will be required to provide an original tax clearance certificate at the
time of making a claim for payment of the grant aid awarded.
PUBLICITY
Beneficiaries must acknowledge the contribution of the National Development Plan 2007-2013
in all promotional material, annual reports, websites etc., by use of appropriate logo and text
references.
FUNDING
The aid being sought is provided under the European Commission Regulation on De Minimis
Aid. Small amounts of State aid, up to 200,000 Euros in any three-year period to any one
enterprise, are regarded as too small to significantly affect trade or competition in the
common market. Such amounts are regarded as falling outside the category of State aid that
is banned by the EC Treaty and can be awarded without notification to or clearance by the
European Commission. A Member State is required to have a mechanism to track such aid
(called ‘De Minimis aid’) and to ensure that the combined amount of De Minimis aid payments
from all sources to one enterprise in any three-year period respects the 200,000 Euro ceiling.
You will be required to provide details of all other De Minimis aid which has been granted to
you or your company/organisation within the past three years. It should be noted that a
false declaration by a company resulting in the threshold of 200,000 Euro being exceeded
could later give rise to the aid being recovered with interest.
A declaration as follows will need to be signed by the applicant:
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I wish to apply for Forestry Development funding under the De Minimis Regulation (EC) No
1998/2006. I confirm that:
The company/organisation has been granted only the following de Minimis aid within the past
three years (details to be supplied)
Signed for Company/Organisation:
Date:
Or
No de Minimis aid has been granted to the company/organisation within the past three years
Signed for Company/Organisation:
Date:
Application Forms etc are available on the Department of Agriculture website under:
www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice Forms and Downloads
Further Information and Application Forms Contact:
Mr. Colm Prendergast
Tel:
053 9163419
Forest Service,
Lo-call:
1890 200 509
Department of Agriculture and Food,
Fax:
053 9143836
Johnstown Castle Estate,
E-mail:
[email protected]
Co. Wexford.
Web:
www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice
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