Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
611. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timetable for the sign off on payments under the TAMS scheme to farmers when all the documentation has been submitted and the payments to be issued; if there are adequate staff to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54744/23]
View answerGenerally, approval for payment under the TAMS scheme takes place within two months following the receipt of the claim for payment, together with valid supporting documentation and the completion of investments in accordance with specifications. Payment then issues to 100% of cleared cases within three weeks of approval for payment, when it has been determined that the work has been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme. Payments will then issue to eligible applicants on a weekly basis.
Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 are currently being processed. 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 assist farmers that required the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities, or urgent animal welfare related investments for the winter of 2023/2024, I provided a priority access facility, and all applications received under this facility have now been assessed.
Approvals have now issued to eligible priority access cases, and my Department has also been in contact with farmers where there is a query on their application in order to resolve the query before approval can issue. In the case of other applications, approval letters have now commenced on a scheme-by-scheme basis, starting with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme.
I also announced previously that 100% of eligible applications under Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 will be approved for funding, which is in keeping with my commitment to assist farmers to address animal welfare, climate and sustainability targets.
