Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
255. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme to ensure funding available is fully utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45252/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe targeted agricultural modernisation schemes (TAMS) are kept under constant review within my Department in order to ensure that the available funding is fully utilised, where possible. For example, the TAMS sow housing welfare scheme was recently revised in order to provide more attractive grant options to pig farmers who still have to bring their facilities up to the standards required by the new EU animal welfare rules which come into force for that sector at the beginning of next year.
As farmers generally have two years to complete the investment works concerned, the level of expenditure lags significantly behind the amount actually committed under each scheme at any particular point in time.
