2,210 payments under the Young Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II have been paid since January 1, 2019.
This amounts to a total value of payments in the amount of €115 million to date, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said.
In response to a parliamentary question from independent Laois-Offaly TD Carol Nolan, the minister provided a county-by-county breakdown of payments.
Co. Dublin saw the lowest number of payments, at 11. Co. Louth saw the second-lowest figure, at 21, and Co. Leitrim accounted for the third-lowest number of payment, at 27.
In response to the parliamentary question answer from Minister McConalogue, deputy Nolan said: “The challenges that young farmers are facing continue to mount, despite current supports. Generational renewal remains a real Europe-wide dilemma. Brexit is introducing profound regulatory uncertainty.
“Young farmers will be a vital link in maintaining continuity and stability in the agri-sector in the years ahead and that is why increased supports must be directed toward them,” Nolan added.
The county-by-county breakdown is outlined in the table below:
Data source: Department of Agriculture
BEAM reduction commitments
In other news related to schemes, there will be no wiggle room on commitments for the 5% reduction of bovine livestock manure nitrogen under the Beef Emergency Aid Measure (BEAM) scheme, Minister McConalogue has indicated.
The minister outlined this week that the 5% reduction target “remains a central requirement of the programme”.
The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from independent TD for Galway-Roscommon Michael Fitzmaurice, who asked if the 5% reduction would be waived for participants in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting difficulties regarding the movement of livestock.
In his answer to deputy Fitzmaurice, Minister McConalogue said: “While there has been intermittent disruption to mart sales over the reduction period to date, the level of trade overall is comparable to the same period last year and the facilities to reduce or restructure a participating herd in line with scheme requirements remain in place.”