Agriculture Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024

Thursday, 1 February 2024

Questions (333)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

333. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1159 of 17 January 2024, with regard to the number of applications submitted to the women farmer capital investment scheme under TAMS III, the reason no applications have been approved yet of the 259 submitted; how many applications of those submitted are expected to be accepted to the scheme; when this will be announced, given other schemes under TAMS the number of accepted applications have been confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4815/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

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.  The scheme was launched in 2023, with Tranches 1 and 2 of the scheme receiving over 17,000 applications under ten specific measures linked to climate, environment or animal welfare.  This includes the Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS), in respect of which 259 applications were received under Tranche 1 and a further 438 applications received under Tranche 2.

The Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme is a new measure introduced under TAMS 3 to address the issue of gender balance in farming.  In excess of 220 of the 259 applications received in Tranche 1 have now passed administrative checks, with 15 approvals now issued to the applicants concerned.

I can confirm that 100% of all eligible applications in both Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 under all schemes, including the Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, will receive approval.