Speaking in front of the Joint Oireachtas Agriculture Committee on Tuesday evening, secretary general of the Department of Agriculture Aidan O’Driscoll said that only a small number of farmers have submitted claims for payment under tranches one and two of TAMS II.

Of the 2,952 applications made in tranche one of TAMS, some 2,483 were approved. However, according to the Department, only 234 farmers have sought payment for building work. And of the 1,778 approvals in tranche two, only 40 farmers have come forward to seek payment.

“We are wondering what is going on here,” O’Driscoll said to the committee.

"New ways of doing business"

O’Driscoll acknowledged that farmers have up to three years from the date of approval to carry out their building work and apply for payment, but he added that the slow rate of approvals means the Department “will have to consider new ways of doing business with regard to TAMS in the future”.

If farmers end up blocking other farmers for approvals we are going to have a real problem on our hands

He also said that the lack of payment claims under tranches one and two of the scheme is going to end up blocking approvals being made in tranches three and four.

“The problem is that, as we issue the approvals, our outstanding commitment mounts and mounts,” said O’Driscoll. “We need to know how much we are going to spend each year and the Department of Public Expenditure will not allow us to keep issuing approvals until we know the amount of money we’re dealing with. If farmers end up blocking other farmers for approvals we are going to have a real problem on our hands.

“If farmers have decided to withdraw their approval and not go ahead with building work on the farm, they need to let us know,” O’Driscoll added.

Some 3,761 applications were made by farmers in tranches three and four and, so far, only 25 have been approved.

“Approvals for farmers in tranches three and four are only going to happen slowly if this trend of not submitting claims in tranches one and two continues,” O’Driscoll warned.

“So, we are urging farmers in tranches one and two to move forward to claim stage, so that we can see the full expenditure on this scheme,” he added.

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