Farmers who applied for funding under the Calf Investment Scheme (CIS) are still waiting for approval from the Department of Agriculture to purchase equipment.

The €1.5m scheme for calf equipment closed on 28 January. Farmers have received acknowledgement of their application, but are awaiting approval letters and claim forms.

Once approved, farmers have until 30 June 2020 to buy equipment.

One supplier of calf equipment told the Irish Farmers Journal they had been inundated with calls from farmers awaiting approval.

“Farmers have been left in limbo. They were told there was money there and to apply to the scheme and now they’re in the dark as to whether they will receive anything,” the supplier said. He has orders, but not complete sales for his equipment from farmers who have applied.

The supplier believes the Department has left it too late to issue approvals, with calving well under way.

The Department of Agriculture said there was “a significant level of interest” in the scheme but did not confirm application numbers.

Applications are currently being evaluated, after which approvals will be issued.

The scheme offers a 40% grant on equipment from €1,000 to €7,500. If it is oversubscribed, a linear cut to the grant rate will apply.