Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
58. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase the upper limit ceiling in the pig and poultry investment scheme under TAMS II; if so, the new upper limit ceiling being considered; when such changes will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33512/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS) is one of the suite of seven measures available under TAMS II. The full indicative allocation for all TAMS II measures over the course of the Rural Development Programme is €395 million. To date, €250 million has been paid across all the available schemes. A further €130m has been committed to scheme participants which they have yet to draw down. Payments under the PPIS now exceed €1.4m.
The TAMS II budget is part of the overall €4 billion Rural Development Programme. This Programme is fully subscribed and Ireland is second amongst all EU member states in our drawdown of EU funding.
A decision was made to request formal European Commission approval to an amendment to the Rural Development Programme to increase the the investment ceiling for the PPIS (pigs and poultry) from the current investment ceiling of €80k to €200k. The estimated cost of this increase is €12m.
A final decision on if and when to proceed with the implementation of this amendment has not yet been made. Obviously budget considerations are a major factor here. The issue will need to be further considered in light of the available budget when the CAP transitional regulations that will provide the legal basis for the transitional period post-2020 are finalised. As CAP negotiations are ongoing, my Department is pressing for the earliest adoption of EU regulations to facilitate the operation of schemes in the period between the current CAP and the CAP Strategic Plan post-2020.
My Department is currently reviewing the TAMs scheme to see that the comprehensive list of investments continues to align with Government policy goals for agriculture and the environment. This review will serve to inform the TAMs scheme for the transitional phase and beyond. I expect to be announcing more details in due course on the opening of TAMs tranches for 2021.
