Over the past 12 months, the Department of Agriculture has announced an array of schemes many of which offer generous farm building grants.
A significant amount of money has been allocated to farm building grants and we’ve detailed some of the key schemes for farmers, from those aimed at young farmers, to dairying to old farm buildings.
1. Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme
The new young farmer grants (Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme) covers an array of equipment and buildings.
Details of the new grants for young farmers, which cover 60% of farm investment, was announced last year.
The young farmer grants come under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, is the first of the new Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II).
The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney said the Scheme is very important – offering eligible young farmers a special rate of aid of 60% of investment costs, compared to the standard rate of 40% which will be generally available to other farmers.
An indicative allocation of €120m has been made available to young farmers under the terms of the new Scheme over the full RDP period.
See if you are eligible for the scheme
See a full list of eligible investments under the scheme.
2. Dairy Equipment Scheme
The new TAMS II Dairy Equipment Scheme, which is the second of the new Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, is now open.
The Dairy Equipment Scheme is open to all farmers who meet the general eligibility criteria, offering a standard rate of aid of 40%.
The specific areas of investment will include milking machines, milk cooling and storage equipment, water heating and in-parlour feeding systems.
Are you eligible for the Dairy Equipment scheme
Full list of eligible items under Dairy Equipment Scheme
3. Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme
The Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme is also included under TAMS II and includes a large variety of investments for farmers.
Eligible investments range from the construction of new animal housing, the provision of nutrient storage facilities and the ever-important safety elements.
Grant aid is available under the scheme at a standard rate of 40%.
4. Traditional Farm Building Scheme
A new scheme to grant-aid the conservation of traditional farm buildings on GLAS farms, was announced in recent weeks.
The new scheme builds upon the success of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme which operated under REPS 4 from 2007 to 2013 and ensured that more than 350 traditional farm buildings throughout Ireland were conserved.
GLAS is the agri-environment scheme for Irish farmers, to which nearly 40,000 farmers have already signed-up, and this new element to that scheme will help ensure that small traditional farm buildings and other structures, which are of significant cultural and heritage value, are restored and conserved for renewed practical agricultural use.
Key Details
- Open to GLAS farmers only
- Grants awarded will not exceed 75% of the cost of the works
- Maximum grant of €25,000
- Minimum grant of €4,000
- The first tranche opens immediately
- Deadline for completed application forms Friday May 6, 2016.
5. Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS)
Organic farmers are set to be able to avail of significant grant aid for key equipment under the TAMS II.
The Organics Capital Investment Scheme will offer a grant aid of 40% while eligible young organic farmers can avail of a 60% rate.
A large array investments are eligible under the Organics Capital Investment Scheme.