With TAMS now up and running for more than two years, IFA rural development chair Joe Brady has said there is a danger that the full allocation of €395m, earmarked for the scheme in the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, will not be fully utilised.

Out of 13,514 applications, 11,590 Department of Agriculture approvals have been issued to allow farmers to proceed with works. So far, 2,522 claims for payment on completed works have been made by farmers, while 1,857 farmers have received their payment.

Brady pointed out that it is important that farmers who have completed investment work send their applications for payment in before the end of the year as there is a significant underspend for 2017. Of the €50m allocated, €22.5m has been paid out this year, leaving sufficient funds to pay at least a further 1,500 farmers. However, bureaucratic delays, problems with the Department’s IT system and approvals and payments being held up due to minor details are leading to delays. These bureaucratic difficulties must be addressed.

Budget 2018 allocated €70m for TAMS. It is important that the allocation for 2017 is fully used as, otherwise, it will eat into next year’s allocation. Average grants are running at €14,000 but in the case of young farmers, the average is €26,000.

The rural development chair reminded farmers who applied for TAMS after the sixth tranche, which ended on 7 April, that they have one year from the date of approval to complete work, and six months where equipment is involved. Previous to this, there was a three-year window to complete work. Brady called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to broaden the scheme to include underpasses and farm roadways as eligible items for grant aid. He said the IFA is also seeking an increase in the upper investment ceiling of €80,000 for the intensive sectors.

The IFA has also urged the minister to deliver on the promise to increase the standard costs to determine grant aid as material and labour costs have increased significantly since they were set.