More than 4,900 farmer applications are to be considered under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II, according to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.
This figure is comprised of new applications under tranche 18, and submissions carried over from the previous tranche, the minister explained.
Minister McConalogue was responding to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Patricia Ryan on why one-third of approved TAMS applications do not progress.
Commenting on the matter, the minister said: “The indicative allocation for the TAMS II scheme over the course of the Rural Development Programme is €395 million.
To date, €237 million has been paid across all the available schemes and a further €73 million in approvals have yet to be claimed by applicants. Expenditure is being monitored closely on a weekly basis.
Applicants with an existing approval have either a six-month, 12-month or, in some cases, a 36-month window to complete their investment. It is entirely a matter for the applicant whether they wish to proceed, the minister explained.
“Tranche 18 of TAMS II closed on August 21, 2020. Under this tranche, 3,448 new applications were received.
“These applications, together with those rolled over from tranche 17, bring the total number to be considered to 4,914.
Given the tight budgetary situation, I would certainly prefer that applicants with existing approvals who do not intend to proceed with the investment to contact my department so that we can use that financial commitment for other applicants.
“My department has raised this with farm organisations and with the advisory bodies who have a key role to play in communicating this message to farmers,” Minister McConalogue concluded.