The surge in planning permissions granted for new Agricultural Buildings seen in the early part of 2016 has continued in the second quarter of the year.

Planning Permissions for new buildings for Agriculture increased to 510 this quarter. This compares to 196 permissions in the same quarter of 2015 an increase of 161%.

The figures are up almost 20% on the first three months of the year when 429 planning permissions were granted for agricultural buildings.

The South East and South West of the country saw the highest numbers of permissions granted in the second quarter.

In the Border, Midlands and Western areas some 198 permissions were granted compared to 312 in Southern and Eastern areas.

Planning permissions granted for Agriculture buildings by region

  • Border – 83
  • Midland – 40
  • West – 75
  • Dublin – 2
  • Mid-East – 21
  • Mid-West – 77
  • South East – 105
  • South West – 107

Much of the rise can be attributed to the launch last year of the TAMS II farm building scheme.

Under the scheme, farmers will be able to avail of grant aid of 40% with eligible young farmers entitled to grant aid of 60% for investments.

Also Read: 5 farm building grants every farmer should know about

Over 7,000 applications have so far been submitted to the Department of Agriculture under the first three tranches of TAMS II, with near 1,200 applications for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.

The latest figures from the Department of Agriculture show that some 3,433 TAMS II approvals have issued to farmers, representing 47% of applications.

To date, some 2,184 approvals have issued under tranche one and 1,249 have issued under tranche two. No approvals have issued to date under tranche three.

The Department of Agriculture is looking for full planning permission, or a letter of exemption for all fixed structures, at the time of application to the new TAMS II schemes.

Under the terms and conditions of the new schemes, the Department says where planning permission is required the Department will not accept an application as valid unless documentary evidence of a grant of full planning permission, revised planning where required or declaration of exemption for the proposed works issued by the relevant Local Authority accompanies the application.

FARM BUILDING GRANTS TAMS II