Virtual fencing will be included in any review of potential investments in the future under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said.
The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who asked if TAMS funding could be provided for farmers in natural heritage areas to buy electric collars for grazing management.
“At this point in time, the Department is not currently adding any new investments into the TAMS 3 schemes. However, virtual fencing will be included in any review of potential investments in the future,” the Minister said.
He said the schemes in TAMS are closely monitored, with scope for the addition and deletion of investments based on the level of demand, changes in technology and available budget.
He added that payments worth over €142m have issued to farmers since 2024.
Ranking and selection
Such is the interest in TAMS that ranking and selection has applied since tranche nine of the scheme.
Priority access has been given to farm safety and nutrient storage schemes for tranche 10.
The Minister admitted at an Oireachtas agriculture committee meeting last month that demand for the scheme is “off the charts”, with almost 60,000 applications across the full suite of schemes in TAMS 3.
However, he has come in for criticism from the Micro Renewable Energy Federation for the ranking and selection process.
The federation accused the Minister of doing a complete hatchet job on solar PV grants by only allowing 10% of tranche 10 applications to the solar scheme.
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Minister accused of hatchet job on TAMS solar PV
Current demand for TAMS 'off the charts' - Minister
TAMS deadline extended for unsuccessful applications in tranche nine
Advisers agitated as Department admits major TAMS error
Virtual fencing will be included in any review of potential investments in the future under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said.
The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who asked if TAMS funding could be provided for farmers in natural heritage areas to buy electric collars for grazing management.
“At this point in time, the Department is not currently adding any new investments into the TAMS 3 schemes. However, virtual fencing will be included in any review of potential investments in the future,” the Minister said.
He said the schemes in TAMS are closely monitored, with scope for the addition and deletion of investments based on the level of demand, changes in technology and available budget.
He added that payments worth over €142m have issued to farmers since 2024.
Ranking and selection
Such is the interest in TAMS that ranking and selection has applied since tranche nine of the scheme.
Priority access has been given to farm safety and nutrient storage schemes for tranche 10.
The Minister admitted at an Oireachtas agriculture committee meeting last month that demand for the scheme is “off the charts”, with almost 60,000 applications across the full suite of schemes in TAMS 3.
However, he has come in for criticism from the Micro Renewable Energy Federation for the ranking and selection process.
The federation accused the Minister of doing a complete hatchet job on solar PV grants by only allowing 10% of tranche 10 applications to the solar scheme.
Read more
Minister accused of hatchet job on TAMS solar PV
Current demand for TAMS 'off the charts' - Minister
TAMS deadline extended for unsuccessful applications in tranche nine
Advisers agitated as Department admits major TAMS error
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