Payments under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) are being made within three weeks of works being approved, the Department of Agriculture has insisted.
“Payments under TAMS issue within three weeks of approval for payment when it has been determined that the work has been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme,” a Department spokesperson said in reply to a query from the Irish Farmers Journal.
“There are no variations in wait times per scheme as all claims are processed as soon as possible upon receipt,” the spokesperson added.
Green light
Just shy of 40,000 farmers have been given the green light by the Department to start works under TAMS 3.
However, farmer representatives claimed that delays in getting Department staff to inspect completed works has slowed up TAMS payments.
The latest figures from the Department show that 16,633 TAMS 3 payment applications have been submitted, with payments made to 13,398 farmers.
Total payments under TAMS 3 to date come to just over €120m.
The CAP Strategic Plan states that a total of €440m will be made available for on-farm investments over the period 2021-2027, of which €340m will be funded from the Rural Development Programme in the period 2021-2025.
Around 130 farmers have still to draw down funds under TAMS II. Department figures show that 56,676 applicants were given approval under the scheme to commence works.
A total of 37,834 payment applications were subsequently submitted to the Department, with payments being made to 37,703 farmers.
Total payments to-date under TAMS II come to €465.735m.
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