Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1214. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to improve on the operational efficiency of the rollout of the new targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, given that delays in the roll-out of tranches and approving of on-farm investments can have financial implications for agtech companies providing the product or service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56895/23]
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.
Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023, with 8,241 applications received across ten separate investment measures. The scheme has proved very popular with this number of applications almost four times the average number of applications received per Tranche under TAMS 2. Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 are currently being processed, with approvals issuing on a daily basis. Applications under Tranche 2 will be processed once the tranche closes on 19 January 2024.
In order to improve the roll out of the scheme I recently announced that, as with Tranche 1, all eligible applications received in Tranche 2 will be approved. Also similar to Tranche 1, those who have applied for mobile investments may proceed with that investment at their own risk before formal approval issues. Finally - and, again, similar to the current arrangements in respect of Tranche 1 - a priority approval mechanism will be available to Tranche 2 applicants who contact their local Department of Agriculture office indicating a need to urgently commence works, particularly in relation to the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities or animal welfare-related investments.
