Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
217. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who export slurry are qualified applicants for the low emissions slurry equipment grant scheme under TAMS II; if not, the reasoning behind the ineligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/23]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is fully committed to encouraging the increased use of Low Emission Slurry equipment. The Low Emission Slurry Scheme (LESS) has been a real success.
Interest in grant aid for the purchase of LESS equipment has been very strong with over 10,700 farmers approved to purchase LESS machinery under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).
Over €68.6 million has been paid to date for investments in LESS equipment under TAMS II.
Whether or not a farmer exports slurry does not determine eligibility under the LESS scheme. The determining factor is the rate of production of organic nitrogen in the farm.
Under the Nitrates Regulations, (Good Agricultural Practice Regulations, (S.I. No. 113 of 2022)) the mandatory use of Low emission slurry spreading equipment by certain categories of farmers is being introduced on a phased basis as follows;
i. Farms exceeding 170 kg nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure or above prior to export of livestock manure from the holding - from 15th April 2022.
ii. Farms exceeding 150 kg nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure or above prior to export of livestock manure from the holding - from 1st January 2023.
iii. Farms exceeding 130 kg nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure or above prior to export of livestock manure from the holding - from 1st January 2024.
iv. Farms exceeding 100 kg nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure or above prior to export of livestock manure from the holding - from 1st January 2025.
v. Slurry produced by pigs on any holding - from 1st January 2023.
Under Article 17 of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) No. 1305/2013, grant aid may be provided for investments for a maximum 12 months after the imposition of new mandatory requirements such as those in the Nitrates Regulations. This applies to all TAMS II schemes.
The TAMS schemes will continue to be grant aided the Rural Development Programme until the end of 2025 and my Department will continue to provide investment supports for LESS under TAMS 3.
