Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1195. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications for a scheme (details supplied) will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56527/23]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (1195)
Written answers
The 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.
Overall, the scheme has proved very popular. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023, with 8,241 applications received across ten separate investment measures (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2). Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 are currently being processed. Once the initial processing is completed, all applications are subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications.
A total of 551 applications were received under Tranche 1 of the Lower Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) Scheme. Approvals have issued to 268 applicants to date, and approvals are continuing to issue to the remaining eligible Tranche 1 applicants on a daily basis.
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 pending formal approval in due course. Processing of Tranche 2 applications will commence once the tranche closes on 19 January 2024.