In response to a Parliamentary Question from the Fianna Fail spokesperson on Agriculture, Eamon O'Cuiv, Minister Coveney has said that he will provide grant aid for the conversion of existing sheds to slatted units.

"The conversion of existing sheds to slatted units is already provided for in certain circumstances under TAMS II," said Coveney. "In the case of existing loose houses grant aid is available for installing both slurry tanks and slats."

Eamon O'Cuiv welcomes the clarification after being contacted by a number of farmers who were unsure if they could apply for a grant to convert existing hay sheds and other similar sheds to slatted units.

"The grant could provide an ideal solution for farmers who want to extend their available space without having to construct new buildings," he said.

ICSA reaction

ICSA sheep chairman, John Brooks, has welcomed the clarification but has called for greater flexibility in grant aiding the upgrading of old sheds.

“At last, we are seeing some signs of a common sense approach to cost effective investment on farms," said Brooks. " However, while there may be some farmers who can find a safe and practical design for converting to a slatted shed, there are many more farmers who have existing slatted or loose sheds who need to upgrade them. I am thinking about sheds built back in the seventies or eighties where there is a need to replace the sheeting on the roof or retrofit galvanised gates and internal barriers and divisions, as well as water facilities.”

He said that this kind of work urgently needs to be done on many farms and it would be much more beneficial for many cattle and sheep farmers for whom new buildings are out of the question.

"We need grants that are practical and cost effective for the majority of farmers," said Brooks. "Farmers in their fifties and sixties still need good facilities but they are at a stage in their farming career where expensive new facilities with a long payback period are not realistic.”

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