Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1156. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to make no fence collars eligible for grant aid in TAMS III, given that they are an effective management tool for grazing livestock on uplands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56281/23]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.
Virtual fencing is a new technology, with limited trials conducted in Ireland. It requires the purchase of GPS enabled collars for each animal and the purchase of an annual licence for the operation of the software. It also requires a phone signal over the entire area in which it is to operate, without which the virtual fence cannot update between the controlling software and the collars.
At this point in time the Department is not adding any new investments into the TAMS 3 schemes. However, virtual fencing will be considered in the context of any potential review of investments to be included in the future.
