The second tranche of TAMS II closed two weeks ago for applications and the third tranche is now open.

Over 6,000 farmers applied for TAMS II in the first and second tranches. However, only 1,122 approvals have been made to date.

Last month, the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal that its new IT approval system would be finalised for all TAMS approvals by the end of March and all outstanding approvals would commence then.IFA rural development chair Flor McCarthy has said that the TAMS II approvals should commence within the next 10 days and it is vital that the 5,000 farmers who have applied in the first two tranches of the scheme are allowed to proceed with their work immediately.