The new Farm Safety Scheme has opened for applications and is expected to meet big farmer interest. The application form, terms and conditions and other information went up on the Department of Agriculture website yesterday (Wednesday).
To allow approvals to be issued quickly, the Department will operate two tranches with the €12m budget divided evenly between the two.
The application deadline for the first tranche will be Friday, 28 November 2015.
The second tranche will open for applications on Monday, 1 December. The scheme will close on 9 January 2015.
All applications not approved in the first tranche will be carried over into the second tranche.
Similarly, any unused budget from the first tranche will transfer for allocation under the second tranche. All work must be completed and a payment claim lodged with the Department by 31 August 2015.
Ranking marks
This week, the Department urged all applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. It has introduced a ranking system which will reward farmers who submit applications before the end of this month. This marking system will apply if the scheme is oversubscribed.
As well as date of application, it will rate applications on age, disadvantaged areas, investment cost, TAMS 1 approval and accuracy of application.
Age – Applicants aged 40 will receive five ranking marks. One additional mark will be given for each year under 40 an applicant is. For each year over 40, an applicant will lose 0.1 marks. TAMS 1 – 50 marks awarded to an applicant given approval under TAMS 1. Cost of proposal – Five marks given for every 1% that total proposed cost is below the lower of total reference cost or scheme ceiling. A maximum 100 marks given where the proposed cost is 20% below reference cost or scheme ceiling. Zero marks if proposed cost at or above reference cost or scheme ceiling. Correct application – 15 marks given if the applicant submits a complete accurate application form which does not require further queries from the Department. Date of application – 15 marks if an application form is received on or before 31 October 2014. Loss of 0.2 marks per calendar day for every day the application is received after 31 October 2014. LFA – 10 marks where the holding is in an LFA.Grant rate
The grant rate is 40% of the receipted costs, or of the Department of Agriculture’s reference costs. The maximum eligible investment ceiling is €20,000/holding, which is a maximum grant amount of €8,000.
The new scheme has a minimum investment threshold of €2,000/holding. In the case of Teagasc milk production partnership, the maximum investment ceiling is multiplied by the number of eligible partners in the partnership, up to a maximum of three.
Eligible items
The items listed below are eligible for grant aid. Where an application is for fixed equipment, then it must include a Farm Building Layout Plan and relevant drawings.
The Department has placed detailed specifications for a number of these items on its website, eg S101C safety cages underneath roof clear-sheets and S123D Accepted Simple Aeration Systems for grant aid.
Fixed equipment:
Safety rails on silo walls – The Department’s reference cost on this is €22.30/linear metre. Safety fencing for external slurry and effluent stores (including gate) – This has a reference cost of €54.70/m. Solid cover for external slurry and effluent stores. Safety covers on external agitation points or manholes. Replacement of damaged slats (single, twin or gang) or replacement of existing internal agitation point with new gang slats – It is strongly recommended that the tank be fully emptied prior to the commencement of any work on the replacement of slats. It is strongly recommended that no one enters the tank during slat replacement activity. Replacement of a hinged door or sheeted gate with a new sliding door or roller door on agricultural buildings. Removal of an end wall of the tank and provision of an external agitation point. Wiring or rewiring of existing farm buildings – The minimum required is a new distribution board, all new lights, all new wire, minimum one new socket/80m2 or per house, and overall ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form. Yard lights – Minimum required is new lights (either metal halide or LED of min. 200W equivalent), all new wire, subsystem ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form. Retrofitting roof clear-sheet (roof light) with safety cages – See Deptartment specification S101C. Circulation pipe (6”) to allow for agitation of slurry. Installation of calving gates. Simple aeration systems.Mobile cattle handling:
Cattle crush unit – The unit must be a minimum of 2.4m long and fitted with a sculling gate (manual or automatic) and a back gate. The crush must be securely fixed when in use to prevent animals turning over the unit. Mobile cattle penning – Maximum eligible is 75m (in combination with a cattle handling unit). Mobile cattle weighing scales. Leg hoist or lifter. Head Scoop. Mobile sheep handling equipment:
Mobile specialised sheep spraying equipment. Portable sheep handling race with wheels (including footbath).Portable basic sheep
handling race. Mobile sheep weighing facilities. Mobile sheep rollover crates. Mobile sheep “batch” footbaths. Mobile sheep penning, max 75 linear metres (in combination with a sheep handling race). Mobile sheep adoption unit front. Mobile sheep adoption unit front with penning.
The new Farm Safety Scheme has opened for applications and is expected to meet big farmer interest. The application form, terms and conditions and other information went up on the Department of Agriculture website yesterday (Wednesday).
To allow approvals to be issued quickly, the Department will operate two tranches with the €12m budget divided evenly between the two.
The application deadline for the first tranche will be Friday, 28 November 2015.
The second tranche will open for applications on Monday, 1 December. The scheme will close on 9 January 2015.
All applications not approved in the first tranche will be carried over into the second tranche.
Similarly, any unused budget from the first tranche will transfer for allocation under the second tranche. All work must be completed and a payment claim lodged with the Department by 31 August 2015.
Ranking marks
This week, the Department urged all applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. It has introduced a ranking system which will reward farmers who submit applications before the end of this month. This marking system will apply if the scheme is oversubscribed.
As well as date of application, it will rate applications on age, disadvantaged areas, investment cost, TAMS 1 approval and accuracy of application.
Age – Applicants aged 40 will receive five ranking marks. One additional mark will be given for each year under 40 an applicant is. For each year over 40, an applicant will lose 0.1 marks. TAMS 1 – 50 marks awarded to an applicant given approval under TAMS 1. Cost of proposal – Five marks given for every 1% that total proposed cost is below the lower of total reference cost or scheme ceiling. A maximum 100 marks given where the proposed cost is 20% below reference cost or scheme ceiling. Zero marks if proposed cost at or above reference cost or scheme ceiling. Correct application – 15 marks given if the applicant submits a complete accurate application form which does not require further queries from the Department. Date of application – 15 marks if an application form is received on or before 31 October 2014. Loss of 0.2 marks per calendar day for every day the application is received after 31 October 2014. LFA – 10 marks where the holding is in an LFA.Grant rate
The grant rate is 40% of the receipted costs, or of the Department of Agriculture’s reference costs. The maximum eligible investment ceiling is €20,000/holding, which is a maximum grant amount of €8,000.
The new scheme has a minimum investment threshold of €2,000/holding. In the case of Teagasc milk production partnership, the maximum investment ceiling is multiplied by the number of eligible partners in the partnership, up to a maximum of three.
Eligible items
The items listed below are eligible for grant aid. Where an application is for fixed equipment, then it must include a Farm Building Layout Plan and relevant drawings.
The Department has placed detailed specifications for a number of these items on its website, eg S101C safety cages underneath roof clear-sheets and S123D Accepted Simple Aeration Systems for grant aid.
Fixed equipment:
Safety rails on silo walls – The Department’s reference cost on this is €22.30/linear metre. Safety fencing for external slurry and effluent stores (including gate) – This has a reference cost of €54.70/m. Solid cover for external slurry and effluent stores. Safety covers on external agitation points or manholes. Replacement of damaged slats (single, twin or gang) or replacement of existing internal agitation point with new gang slats – It is strongly recommended that the tank be fully emptied prior to the commencement of any work on the replacement of slats. It is strongly recommended that no one enters the tank during slat replacement activity. Replacement of a hinged door or sheeted gate with a new sliding door or roller door on agricultural buildings. Removal of an end wall of the tank and provision of an external agitation point. Wiring or rewiring of existing farm buildings – The minimum required is a new distribution board, all new lights, all new wire, minimum one new socket/80m2 or per house, and overall ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form. Yard lights – Minimum required is new lights (either metal halide or LED of min. 200W equivalent), all new wire, subsystem ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form. Retrofitting roof clear-sheet (roof light) with safety cages – See Deptartment specification S101C. Circulation pipe (6”) to allow for agitation of slurry. Installation of calving gates. Simple aeration systems.Mobile cattle handling:
Cattle crush unit – The unit must be a minimum of 2.4m long and fitted with a sculling gate (manual or automatic) and a back gate. The crush must be securely fixed when in use to prevent animals turning over the unit. Mobile cattle penning – Maximum eligible is 75m (in combination with a cattle handling unit). Mobile cattle weighing scales. Leg hoist or lifter. Head Scoop. Mobile sheep handling equipment:
Mobile specialised sheep spraying equipment. Portable sheep handling race with wheels (including footbath).Portable basic sheep
handling race. Mobile sheep weighing facilities. Mobile sheep rollover crates. Mobile sheep “batch” footbaths. Mobile sheep penning, max 75 linear metres (in combination with a sheep handling race). Mobile sheep adoption unit front. Mobile sheep adoption unit front with penning. 
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