The upper level of grant aid payable under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II is calculated based on the Department of Agriculture’s national reference costs.

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady is calling on Minister Michael Creed to increase reference costings due to a significant increase in the cost of materials.

“The most recent CSO wholesale price index for building and construction materials officially confirms that price for all materials increased by 3.4% in June 2017 compared with June of 2016. For example, ready-mixed mortar and concrete has increased by 2.4%; structural steel by 7.5%; sand and gravel by 6.9%; cement by 4.4%, stone/sand/gravel by 6.9%, and labour costs increased by 2.5%.”

Brady says the Department must take account of all the data available to them.

“The IFA raised this matter with Minister Creed last month and at the most recent Charter of Farmers’ Rights meeting. The adjustment in costings is necessary given the recent increases in building materials and other costs such as labour and fittings. It is not acceptable that farmers were promised either a grant of 40% or 60% with the Department basing their costings on outdated 2015 and earlier figures,” Brady says.