There have been 5,205 applications to date for TAMS II schemes of grant aid for farm improvement work. The six schemes opened in stages from June 2015. Two tranches – application rounds – have been held and a third tranche opened earlier this month.
Starting last November, the Department of Agriculture issued part approvals to close to 1,000 farmers allowing them proceed with urgent work. Most of these cases involved preliminary work on dairy farms ahead of cows calving, start of milking, etc.
The Department has indicated to the IFA that full approvals will start issuing to applicants before the end of this month.
Most popular
Figures from the Department show there were 2,983 applications to the first tranche and 2,222 applications to the second tranche. The numbers of applications to each of the individual schemes are shown in Table 1.
The Dairy Equipment Scheme has attracted the most interest, with 1,088 applications in the first tranche and 595 for the second.The general purpose Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme is the second most popular, attracting 939 applications in the first tranche followed by 607 in the second.IFA rural development chair Flor McCarthy has called on Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to instruct his officials to issue approvals for all tranche one and two applicants immediately.
“Some farmers applied as long as nine months ago,” he said. “It is now nearly six months since the close of tranche one. These delays are unacceptable – many farmers’ investment plans have been put on hold.”
He called on Minister Coveney to allow applications for grant aid for sheep fencing and tillage measures in tranche three.
“Some young sheep and tillage farmers who plan investment have been in touch with IFA and will lose out under the five-year rule if there is further delay.”
There have been 5,205 applications to date for TAMS II schemes of grant aid for farm improvement work. The six schemes opened in stages from June 2015. Two tranches – application rounds – have been held and a third tranche opened earlier this month.
Starting last November, the Department of Agriculture issued part approvals to close to 1,000 farmers allowing them proceed with urgent work. Most of these cases involved preliminary work on dairy farms ahead of cows calving, start of milking, etc.
The Department has indicated to the IFA that full approvals will start issuing to applicants before the end of this month.
Most popular
Figures from the Department show there were 2,983 applications to the first tranche and 2,222 applications to the second tranche. The numbers of applications to each of the individual schemes are shown in Table 1.
The Dairy Equipment Scheme has attracted the most interest, with 1,088 applications in the first tranche and 595 for the second.The general purpose Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme is the second most popular, attracting 939 applications in the first tranche followed by 607 in the second.IFA rural development chair Flor McCarthy has called on Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to instruct his officials to issue approvals for all tranche one and two applicants immediately.
“Some farmers applied as long as nine months ago,” he said. “It is now nearly six months since the close of tranche one. These delays are unacceptable – many farmers’ investment plans have been put on hold.”
He called on Minister Coveney to allow applications for grant aid for sheep fencing and tillage measures in tranche three.
“Some young sheep and tillage farmers who plan investment have been in touch with IFA and will lose out under the five-year rule if there is further delay.”
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