There has been an increase in the number of buildings queries received in recent weeks. A contributing factor is a significant number of part-time farmers currently off work and having more time on their hands to catch up on repairs or complete tasks that they can carry out on their own.
A number of queries relate to replacing slats and availing of grant aid under TAMS II to do so. The reasons for replacing vary from slats showing their age and exhibiting hairline cracks, exposed steel or surface damage (chipping or worn slippery surfaces) to damage to relatively new slats, while there has also been a couple of queries regarding shed conversions from cattle to sheep. 
A slat showing damage to the surface and also a hairline crack. Slats like this pose a significant risk to animal welfare.
Tank integrity
The first point to note is that the building specifications concerning the replacement of slats (SI 123s February 2018) state that slat replacement shall only be undertaken on tanks constructed with the building specification S123 which sets out rules for steel reinforcing and construction. This excludes slats being replaced on slurry/effluent tanks built with concrete blocks and at a depth of greater than 1.2m.
Tanks should also allow for slats to have a load bearing of at least 150mm at points of support, while the tank should be capable of providing a level finish to slats that is free from any rocking movement. Slats must also be supplied by a Department of Agriculture-approved manufacturer and be accompanied by a certificate of slat manufacture.
Aged slats showing concrete disintegrating and steel becoming expose.
The second important requirement regards the location of agitation points. Where there are internal agitation points present within a building then they will need to be removed as a condition of receiving grant aid. The specifications state that where there is currently no provision for external agitation, then the tank will need to be extended (as per S.123A) or have a simple aeration system (S.123D) installed.
Grant aid
The level of grant aid available under TAMS is 60% for young trained farmers and 40% for standard applications. The Department’s reference costs for the replacement of cattle, sheep and calf slats is similar at €58.60/m2. Pig slats have a lower reference cost of €45.80/m2. Where slats are being replaced with slabs to fulfil housing requirements under the organic scheme the reference cost is €57.10/m2.
Manhole covers for agitation points are costed at €407/item. If a tank needs to be extended to allow for external agitation then the reference cost is listed at €4,125. The installation of a safety agitation platform for existing external tanks has a reference cost of €1,633.20.
The reference cost is the maximum costing on which the Department will pay grant aid on. Where the cost is higher than the reference cost then no grant aid will be paid on the sum exceeding the reference cost. Where the actual receipted cost is lower than the reference cost, then grant aid will be based on the lower costing.
Application timelines
The minimum spend to avail of grant aid is €2,000 excluding VAT. The deadline for tranche 17 of TAMS II has been extended from 24 April to 5 June. This is a move which has received a somewhat negative reaction from farm organisations who say that it will increase the number of applications in tranche 17 and end up pushing approval times down the line or result in a higher number of applications being carried over to tranche 18 if the allocation fund is not increased.
Applicants need to be aware of this when planning works. It generally takes a period of two to three months following the tranche to receive approval so if this remains the case applicants can expect to receive an answer in September.
There has been an increase in the number of buildings queries received in recent weeks. A contributing factor is a significant number of part-time farmers currently off work and having more time on their hands to catch up on repairs or complete tasks that they can carry out on their own.
A number of queries relate to replacing slats and availing of grant aid under TAMS II to do so. The reasons for replacing vary from slats showing their age and exhibiting hairline cracks, exposed steel or surface damage (chipping or worn slippery surfaces) to damage to relatively new slats, while there has also been a couple of queries regarding shed conversions from cattle to sheep.
A slat showing damage to the surface and also a hairline crack. Slats like this pose a significant risk to animal welfare.
Tank integrity
The first point to note is that the building specifications concerning the replacement of slats (SI 123s February 2018) state that slat replacement shall only be undertaken on tanks constructed with the building specification S123 which sets out rules for steel reinforcing and construction. This excludes slats being replaced on slurry/effluent tanks built with concrete blocks and at a depth of greater than 1.2m.
Tanks should also allow for slats to have a load bearing of at least 150mm at points of support, while the tank should be capable of providing a level finish to slats that is free from any rocking movement. Slats must also be supplied by a Department of Agriculture-approved manufacturer and be accompanied by a certificate of slat manufacture.
Aged slats showing concrete disintegrating and steel becoming expose.
The second important requirement regards the location of agitation points. Where there are internal agitation points present within a building then they will need to be removed as a condition of receiving grant aid. The specifications state that where there is currently no provision for external agitation, then the tank will need to be extended (as per S.123A) or have a simple aeration system (S.123D) installed.
Grant aid
The level of grant aid available under TAMS is 60% for young trained farmers and 40% for standard applications. The Department’s reference costs for the replacement of cattle, sheep and calf slats is similar at €58.60/m2. Pig slats have a lower reference cost of €45.80/m2. Where slats are being replaced with slabs to fulfil housing requirements under the organic scheme the reference cost is €57.10/m2.
Manhole covers for agitation points are costed at €407/item. If a tank needs to be extended to allow for external agitation then the reference cost is listed at €4,125. The installation of a safety agitation platform for existing external tanks has a reference cost of €1,633.20.
The reference cost is the maximum costing on which the Department will pay grant aid on. Where the cost is higher than the reference cost then no grant aid will be paid on the sum exceeding the reference cost. Where the actual receipted cost is lower than the reference cost, then grant aid will be based on the lower costing.
Application timelines
The minimum spend to avail of grant aid is €2,000 excluding VAT. The deadline for tranche 17 of TAMS II has been extended from 24 April to 5 June. This is a move which has received a somewhat negative reaction from farm organisations who say that it will increase the number of applications in tranche 17 and end up pushing approval times down the line or result in a higher number of applications being carried over to tranche 18 if the allocation fund is not increased.
Applicants need to be aware of this when planning works. It generally takes a period of two to three months following the tranche to receive approval so if this remains the case applicants can expect to receive an answer in September.
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