The Department of Agriculture has not yet made a final decision on the number of tranches that will be opened under TAMS II.

Tranche 18 opened for applications on 6 June, and is likely to remain open until mid-September. With the farm investment scheme due to end on 31 December 2020, it remains to be seen if there will be a tranche 19.

To date, €219.5m has been paid out of the budgeted €395m, with an €82m spend budgeted for 2020.

The Department is also monitoring the situation in relation to project completion deadlines. Due to COVID-19, all projects due for completion between 1 March and 1 July were granted a three-month extension.

There have been calls for similar flexibilities to be offered to those due to complete projects in the first half of July. The Department said it will implement further changes if they are needed.

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