According to the Department of Agriculture, TAMS II payments have been made to 2,126 farmers to date, with 126 farmers having been paid in the last week (up to 1 December). A total of €500,000 was paid out in the last week, with an average payment of just under €4,000. The Department continues to urge applicants to lodge payment claims, if works have been completed. While this may seem small, it lines up with the type of applications that farmers have made through the scheme.The current tranche of TAMS was due to close on 12 January 2018. However, according to the Department, this has now been changed to 23 February 2018. The 10th tranche of TAMS will open the following day. A budget of €70m has been set aside for 2018.