TAMS II update: over 9,000 applications so far

The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) was launched in June 2015. With potential grant aid of 40% for general applications and 60% for young trained farmers, the scheme is essential for farmers to gain financial support to complete works, particularly at a time when all sectors are facing significant income challenges.

Unfortunately, TAMS II has been regularly discussed in farming circles with an overtone of frustration. This stemmed from approval delays at the outset and while there has been considerable improvement in this area, the scheme found itself again under pressure when some farmers faced delays in getting payment applications submitted and approved.

TAMS II has found itself entering the headlines in recent weeks following a suggestion that the timeframe to complete works may have to be shortened to alleviate budgetary concerns.

The Department of Agriculture has stated that no decisions have been made as yet but a suggestion to reduce the period to complete works from the time of approval to one year is being met with opposition and concern from farmers, planners, farm organisations and agri-construction specialists who say that a one-year timeline would be too restrictive for significant-sized projects.

Potential changes to eligibility for sheep fencing is another area under the spotlight. A number of planners and applicants have reported being denied approval for sheep fencing under tranche three for the reason of not having sheep. This is despite the terms and conditions not stating that an applicant must possess sheep to be eligible for grant aid.

In a statement last week, the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal that anyone not happy with the decision can make an appeal. We are still awaiting a Department response on whether the eligibility criteria has, or will be, changed for the current tranche in operation.

Finally, there has been no announcement yet on the opening of a TAMS II tillage measure.

The Department told the Irish Farmers Journal in September it would open at the earliest possible opportunity.

Applications

To date, there have been 9,014 applications made for TAMS II investment items. The investment items covered in the scheme are wide-ranging from calving gates to dairy parlour equipment and livestock sheds to slurry storage and much more. Table 1 shows the number of applications made to date and approvals issued in each of the TAMS II measures. Farmers cannot make an investment through TAMS II until they receive prior approval from the Department. In total, 4,445 approvals have been issued. These approvals are primarily from the first two tranches that closed for applications back in March of this year. The majority of farmers who made applications in the third tranche of TAMS II are still awaiting approval to begin work. This tranche closed four and half months ago, which should have allowed plenty of time for the issuing of approvals.

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Special focus: planning for TAMS II and FBIS grants