Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018
447. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS, sheep fencing grants reclaimed by his Department in cases in which the farmer did not remain in sheep farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31436/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a requirement of the TAMS grant aid Scheme for sheep fencing that applicants must own and possess a yearly average of 40 adult sheep (weaned lamb or older) at time of application or at the latest by the date the claim is submitted for payment. This is checked at payment stage and no payment issues in respect of the investment if the criterion is not met.
Applicants must maintain a sheep enterprise for at least five years from the date of payment of grant aid. This is checked as part of the ex-post checks required by EU Regulations.
To date, there have been no reclaims of grant in respect of sheep fencing investments reported as part of this recheck.
