One-week extension for TAMS II

The deadline for applications to the scheme was originally Friday 18 September. The Department of Agriculture has now extended the deadline by one week to Friday 25 September.

The extension is due to minor technical difficulties which are being addressed by the Department.

The online system for preparing applications for the €120m YFCIS, open to farmers under 40 years of age who have been farming for less than five years, went live in mid-June.

The system can be accessed directly through the Department’s agfood services website by farmers who are registered for these services. Alternatively, farmers can use an approved agricultural advisor to prepare an application to the scheme.

Grant aid is available under this scheme to assist farmers in the construction of nutrient storage facilities, storage facilities for other farmyard manures, soiled water and related facilities, as well as farm-safety investments. In the case of an individual applicant or company, the maximum grant amount payable is 60% on costs up to the ceiling of €80,000.

The YFCIS was the first scheme to be launched under the €4bn Rural Development Programme (RDP). A total of €395m has been made available for TAMS II schemes over the course of the RDP period. The remaining five schemes – the Dairy Equipment Scheme, the Organic Capital Investment Scheme, Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme, Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme and Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme – were launched on successive dates throughout the summer.

There will be further chances to apply to the six schemes in a series of tranches up until 31 December 2020.