Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

The Work

Forestry Inspectors’ duties can vary depending on where they are working. They are typically employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and their core duties include:

• Inspections of forestry work and control of felling
• Collecting and disseminating statistics about Ireland’s forest estate
• Measuring and recording of data for the National Forest Inventory
• Implementation in a forestry context of EU and National legislation
• Evaluation, monitoring and verification of progress on forest research projects.

In some positions, forestry inspectors have an Input into policy regarding climate change, forest genetic resources, bioenergy, international forestry and forest sector development related matters.

Some Forestry Inspectors work at Border Control or Inspection Centres at sea and air ports. Their day-today responsibilities involve planning and inspection of imports of regulated wood and wood products into Ireland. They liaise with Customs Officials, importers and their agents.

Many forestry Inspectors travel to various parts of the country on official duties and spend time both in an office and outdoors.

The use of specialised equipment may be required for the completion of some duties, such as GPS or clinometers. Personal protective equipment is also worn.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
• Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
• Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
• Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
• Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
• Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
• Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
• Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
• Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
• Operate skidders, bulldosers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

A Forestry Inspector typically needs to have a degree with Forestry as a major subject. You can develop your skills, qualifcations, and experience. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre PLC Course: Forestry, Environmental Health Science NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses. 

Higher Education CAO Entry Forestry, Forestry-Agricultural Science, Environmetal Health, Environmental Science, Land Management in Agriculture, Land Management in Horticulture NFQ 7-8 Search CAO courses.

Professional Development

However, you can also enter the profession from a broader range of degree subjects, such as civil engineering, agricultural and environmental science.

Inspectors may also need experience of working in the forestry sector or a related area.

A full driving licence and access to a car is typically required as you may travel to different sites.

Postrgraduate course options Environmental Resource Management NFQ level 9

You can develop your expertise in the field, as well as improving your chances of progressing in your career, by undertaking a relevant postgraduate qualification. Both UCD and WIT offer postgraduate forestry and wood-energy related research programmes for example.

Teagasc Forestry 

Coillte 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €34k - €72k

Salaries vary by Inspector Grade, in line with role, duties, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Agriculture.gov.ie/ PAS/ Teagasc/ Forsa

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

  • Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 607 2000 Lo Call 1890 200 510
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• COFORD

  • Research Division, Department Agriculture, Food & Marine, Kildare St., Dublin, 2
  • (01) 607 2487
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here