Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
927. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to allowing all organic manures to be stored under the 70% TAMS grant for slurry storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47989/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. My Department is currently engaging with the European Commission with a view to obtaining approval to introduce a Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme under the current CAP Strategic Plan.
The key objective of this scheme, which will be part of TAMS 3, will be to provide improved storage and more appropriate use of all organic manures, which will be a key factor in delivering improved sustainability in the farming sector. An improved distribution of nutrients across Irish farms combined with good nutrient storage management and the targeted, timely use of this valuable resource will improve environmental and economic sustainability and has the potential to significantly reduce reliance on imported chemical fertiliser.
I am proposing a higher grant of 70% In order to encourage farmers to invest in organic fertiliser storage facilities to allow for the importation of organic fertilisers onto their holding. It is envisaged that this higher rate will be available for the provision of new organic fertiliser storage facilities for farmers with contracts in place to import organic fertiliser with the exact specifics of the scheme yet to be defined.
I am confident that this measure will have a positive impact on water quality and overall emissions form the sector by encouraging farmers to import organic fertiliser thus reducing the use of chemical fertilisers on these holdings.
