One in five farmers who applied for TAMS II between 8 December 2018 and 5 April 2019 will see their approval delayed because that tranche of the scheme was oversubscribed, Department of Agriculture secretary general Brendan Gleeson has told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.

“Those farmers will be able to put in applications in the next tranche as well and they might end up higher up the ranking of selection at that point,” Gleeson said.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the Department plans to contact those affected by delays in the coming days.

One suckler farmer in Co Mayo affected by the delay told the Irish Farmers Journal that he has begun construction on a cattle shed without the grant after receiving no communication since applying in January, losing out on tens of thousands of euros.

“I can’t afford to wait any longer. I got out of a lease on another farm, I have to do this because I can’t leave cattle out. I’ll be lucky if I have it ready in October,” he said.