Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2023
178. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the situation regarding TAMS applications; the number of tranches that have been opened under the new CAP; the number of approvals that have issued; the funding available under the TAMS scheme, delays in processing and issuing approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55493/23]
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. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.
Overall, the scheme has proved very popular. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023, with 8,241 applications received across ten separate investment measures (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2). Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 are currently being processed. Once the initial processing is completed, all applications are subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications.
To assist farmers that required the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities, or urgent animal welfare-related investments for the winter of 2023/2024, I provided a priority access facility, and all applications received under this facility have now been assessed. Approvals have now issued to 252 of these eligible priority access cases, and my Department has also been in contact with farmers where there is a query on their application in order to resolve the query before approval can issue.
Non-priority approval letters for Tranche 1 applications have now commenced, starting with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme. It is anticipated that the majority of approvals under Tranche 1 will issue by April 2024.
To address the issue where approval is required urgently, my Department is putting in place a mechanism that will allow applicants or their advisors who have an urgent need to commence works to contact their Department of Agriculture local office. Their application will then be assessed to determine if there is an urgent need to issue approval, and prioritised accordingly.
More than 50% of all investments under Tranche 1 are in respect of mobile equipment. Applicants may purchase the mobile equipment, at their own risk, subject to verification of eligibility in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the relevant schemes.
I also announced previously that 100% of eligible applications under tranche 1 of TAMS 3 will be approved for funding, which is in keeping with my commitment to assist farmers to address animal welfare, climate and sustainability targets.
Finally, I can confirm that, as announced earlier this week, Tranche 2 of TAMS 3 will close on Friday 15 December at 5pm. Tranche 3 of the scheme will open on Monday 18 December and close Friday 12 April 2024 at close of business. This will ensure that applications received since the tranche opened in July can be proceeded with as efficiently as possible, and to ensure that those who need to carry out works in a timely manner in 2024 can be processed, including by according them the necessary priority.
