Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2015
252. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 will commence; if farmers in dairying will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41519/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new TAMS measure will make €395m available to Irish farmers for investing in on-farm infrastructure, facilities and equipment. All TAMS schemes have been opened and the applications received under the first tranches of both the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme are now being processed.
Interest in TAMS to date has exceeded expectations and clearly many Irish farmers are looking once again at the benefits of investing in their enterprises and expanding production. Under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme a total of 520 applications have been received with over 200 of these applying for dairy investments while over a thousand applications have been submitted for the Dairy Equipment Scheme.
All applications received are being examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. This is a complex process and as all applications for TAMS 2 must be made under a tranche-based approach, we are required to evaluate, rank and assess all applications received together. Applications cannot be approved individually or on a rolling basis as they are submitted. I am aware that farmers who applied for dairy investments are keen to have approval in place.
