Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2012
28 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding provided for the targeted agricultural modernisation schemes for 2011; the amount of expenditure incurred under those schemes in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14617/12]
View answerThe original allocation for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) for 2011 was €21.3 million. As the deputy will be aware, the schemes were suspended for new applications on 8 June 2011 and were re-opened in December 2011 following the comprehensive review of my Department's expenditure which was underway at that time and the particular issue of consideration of funding for the Department's capital expenditure programme in 2013.
Grant payments under the TAMS may only be made when documented claims in respect of completed projects have been submitted by applicants and verified by my Department. The expenditure for the calendar year 2011 under the Schemes concerned is set out in the following table:
|
Scheme |
Amount (€m) |
|
Bioenergy |
0.363 |
|
Dairy Equipment |
— |
|
Poultry Welfare |
0.462 |
|
Rainwater Harvesting |
— |
|
Sheep Fencing/Handling |
— |
|
Sow Welfare |
— |
|
Total |
0.825 |
Under the TAMS, farmers generally have a period of two years from the date of issue of approval to complete the investment works concerned.
