The sixth tranche of TAMS II opened last Saturday for applications. This tranche will remain open for three months and is due to close on 7 April 2017.

The time frames from the date of approval to have works completed and a payment claim submitted to the online system has changed. In previous tranches, farmers had three years to complete approved investments. The new time frames are six months for mobile equipment, with the time frame for structures and fixed equipment from the date of approval to have works completed and claim submitted to the online system now 12 months.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine (DAFM), the time frames are being changed to ensure that the grant aid approved is drawn down in a timely manner to facilitate budget certainty and in an effort to ensure that funding is made available for the full period of the Rural Development Programme.

It is worth noting that, to date, grants to the value of €90m have been approved, while only €5m of funds have been drawn down, according to DAFM.

At a meeting in Johnstown Castle with DAFM last week, the IFA got assurances that if a farmer for any reason could not commence work within the 12-month deadline, then they can apply again under the tranche that is open at that time.

The IFA also said farmers will have the opportunity to apply for an extension to complete work if they are under pressure to meet the shorter time frame.

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady said that any of the 9,000 farmers who have applied under any of the first five tranches, 5,896 of whom have received approval to proceed, will be covered by the old rules regarding completion of work, which is three years for both mobile and fixed equipment.

The widely anticipated tillage scheme is still under development and a DAFM spokesperson said it will open for online applications in a matter of weeks.