Payments through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) have surpassed €100m, over three years into the scheme which was originally launched in 2015.

Over €4.3m in payments were issued to 290 farmers between 21 December and 4 January to leave total payments at €103m.

Payments issuing through the scheme have really intensified over the past six months with €50m issuing to 3,175 applicants in this time meaning an average payment of approximately €15,700.

To date 17,800 approvals have issued to farmers with 7,973 payment claims submitted. Of these the Department is currently working through 936 applications.

€395m budget

With the scheme staying remaining open for applications until the end of 2020, only a quarter of the overall budget has been spent to date meaning a major increase in building work will have to occur over the next two years to see the remaining €290m spent through the scheme.

Answering a parliamentary question on the topic of a TAMS underspend in the run up to Christmas, Minister Creed outlined that: “It is expected that the budget of €395m for the period of the RDP will be fully spent.”

He added: “The inclusion of additional items such as meal bins for all sectors including the dry stock sector can only be considered in the context of the overall budgetary position which is being closely monitored.”

If we were to use the average payment of €15,700 through the scheme and apply it to the total number of approvals issued to date, 17,800, it would mean that commitments through the scheme would be approximately €280m. This would mean that €180m has been committed that has yet to be claimed.