Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the women farmers' capital investment scheme under TAMS III; if there has been, or will be, a review of eligibility criteria for the scheme, given concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18242/24]
View answerMy question is on the capital investment scheme for women farmers under TAMS. Will the Minister of State give an update on the number of applications approved to date. Given the issues that have been raised about locking out women farmers from accessing the scheme in the first place, will she review the eligibility criteria?
The women farmers capital investment scheme is one of ten measures in the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS 3, which provides grants to farmers to build and-or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The women farmers scheme opened for applications on 21 June 2023 and 867 applications were submitted up to 12 April, when tranche 3 closed for applications. The fourth tranche is currently open for applications. To date, 333 applications submitted in the first two tranches have received approval, with further approvals issuing daily. A standard grant rate of 40% is provided for all eligible investments in TAMS 3, with an enhanced 60% rate available to women farmers who meet the eligibility criteria under the scheme.
Eligibility criteria for women farmers include being aged between 18 and 66 years of age at the date of application; in the case of a woman farmer farming with others, a declaration is required that the woman farmer exercises effective and long-term control over the partnership or legal person in terms of decisions related to management, benefits and financial risks, either solely, or jointly with other members of the partnership; and in the case of a company or registered farm partnership, any or all women farmers must be a director and have at least a 20% shareholding. When farming with others, a declaration that they have effective and long-term control of the holding is required; the requirements must be met for the appropriate training and-or skills required at the time of applying; and in the case of a joint venture, both applicants must meet the eligibility criteria.
There are no plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the women farmers scheme. The CAP places a particular focus on generational renewal and on promoting the participation of women in the social and economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. Gender equality is also a key objective of the United Nations sustainable development goals and a priority for us as Ministers. I believe the scheme, in its current structure, is best placed to address the issues of both generational renewal and gender balance in farming.
Will the Minister of State confirm the figures, namely that 867 applications were received and that 333 of those were approved? Can she advise if any have been refused? She will be well aware that the women in agriculture stakeholder group has raised concerns about the eligibility criteria. Last summer, when it was introduced, it flagged its fear that it would lock some women out of accessing this really important support.
The Minister of State should listen to the concerns of the likes of the stakeholders group. We should draw on their expertise and review the eligibility. I know it was also raised at point 8 of the recommendations under the new national women in agriculture action plan, which reinforced that eligibility needs to be looked at in these schemes.
I confirm that 867 applications have been received with 333 approvals in the first two tranches and it is increasing all the time. I do not have the figure for rejections. I can find that and get it to the Deputy. This is a generous scheme which supports women in farming. The eligibility criterifa are broad, covering almost all female farmers. We have to be careful that it is not subject to abuse with people saying that they are female farmers when they are not in fact one of the primary people who exercise long-term control over the farm itself. That is why the eligibility criteria are there in the first place. It is good that female farmers are engaging with it. The three tranches have shown a healthy application rate with female farmers and I hope that continues.
It will be important to see how many, if any, of the 867 applications made have been refused for whatever reason to allow us to understand if there is an issue there. If a stakeholder group of women farmers set up to represent women farmers is raising an issue of access to this scheme, it would be worthy of consideration by the Minister of State. Perhaps when this fourth tranche closes, she might agree to look at the eligibility criteria given that women farmers, who set up a group to represent the women farmers, are the ones who have raised the issue and have done so in good faith.
I again reiterate that point 8 of the national women in agriculture action plan raises the scheme eligibility. Clearly, there is an issue here. It would be interesting to see the number who have not been approved and I would appreciate if the Minister of State could provide that to me. The Minister of State should at least look at the eligibility criteria. If there is an issue there, it should just be resolved. It is not a big deal and I imagine that it could be addressed quite easily.
We will engage with the stakeholders group on its concerns, as we would have done up to now. I imagine that the small number of women farmers who do not meet the criteria under this TAM scheme may apply for any of the other TAM schemes. There is grant aid of between 40% and 60% there, including the young farmers scheme. There are about ten schemes available under TAMS that they could look into if they fall out of the women farmers scheme. I hope there have not been too many refusals but if there have been any, I will get that information to the Deputy.
