The policy of the Department is to pay the 2nd instalment of the grant at year four following application for payment by the landowner and his agent, where the plantation has been successfully established.
Where the plantation has not been successfully established an application should not be made for year four payment.
Regardless of the reason why a plantation has not been successfully established the premium will continue to be paid up to and including year six to give the applicant and his agent the opportunity to carry out any remedial works.
In cases where the plantation is not yet established after year six the 7th premium will not be paid until such a time that the forest is satisfactorily established, regardless of whether there has been frost damage or other reasons why the plantation is not established.
While 90% of the trees must be successfully established for a 2nd instalment payment, in the case of frost damaged trees some tolerance is allowed so that 2nd instalment grants can be made where up to 30% frost damage has occurred. This additional tolerance in the case of frost damage has been communicated to the sector by way of ‘Circular 9 of 2020 -Inspection Standards for Grant-Aided Plantations Affected by Frost’.
