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Changes to the TAMS rules on payment of deposits have been welcomed by farmers.
The new rule will allow farmers who have applied for TAMS and put down a deposit for equipment before they were formally approved, to claim the deposit as a legitimate expense in claiming grant aid.
“Prior to this, farmers were penalised if they had paid a deposit for work or equipment before formal approval to proceed with work,” said IFA rural development chair Joe Brady.
“This change is particularly relevant for farmers installing milking machines and bulk tanks, and purchasing low-emission slurry spreading equipment under the scheme.”
Penalised
Up to now, the rules said that farmers could lose the value of the deposit off the item for grant purposes if a deposit of up to 20% was paid.
If the deposit was between 20% and 50% of the approved value, then that work or item was not eligible for any grant aid.
If the deposit is over 50% of the value, then the entire application, including any other investment items, was deemed ineligible.
Joe Brady said IFA had been in contact with the Department about a number of cases over the past six to nine months.
“It is important that any farmer who suffered a penalty gets the full grant aid paid,” he added.
Don’t miss out on your TAMS II grant
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