Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2023
214. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on having a limit of 160 cows for young farmers applying to the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 3 (TAMS). [10581/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have introduced some changes to TAMS under the TAMS 3 to continue to align it with overall agriculture and environmental priorities. For applications under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, applicants may apply for up to 10 milking units in a herringbone parlour, or one robotic milking machine, if they have less than 160 cows on average over the year preceding the making of an application.
I can also confirm that the limit relates only to the milking machine investments and does not apply to any other investments under any of the 10 Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) that are being put in place. Almost 80% of all dairy herds in the country will remain eligible to apply for milking machine investments under the 120 cow ceiling.
