Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
408. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TAMS applications currently on hand that are not processed by his Department; the length of time these applications are on hand, broken down by three-month intervals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51023/23]
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.
Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30th June 2023, A total of 8,241 applications were submitted. To date, administrative checks have been conducted on 6,298 applications. Applicants and their agents have been contacted where irregularities have been found. Of the 1,943 applications still to be processed, 211 were received between February and April 2023 and the remaining 1,732 between May and June 2023.
Once the initial processing is completed all applications will be subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications.
To help with the processing of the huge number of applications, I allowed farmers who require the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities, or urgent animal welfare related investments required for the winter of 2023/2024, to apply for priority approval.
Tranche 2 of TAMS 3 is currently open for applications. All applications submitted under Tranche 2 will be assessed following the closing date of the tranche.
It is anticipated that approval letters for Tranche 1 applications will issue shortly, starting with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme.
