The TAMS II payment claim system is now open, allowing farmers to submit payment claims under the scheme online, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed to Agriland.

Some farmers, who received early approvals, have been left waiting six months to apply to the claim system.

To date, figures from the Department show that 2,829 approvals for constructing new farm buildings under TAMS II have issued to farmers.

This leaves 60% of farmers still awaiting approvals, which are needed by farmers before they can start any building works on the farm.

Under TAMS II, individual farmers can apply for grant aid of 40% on investments up to a ceiling of €80,000, this is a maximum individual payment of €32,000.

Farmers who reach this grant aid ceiling are not eligible to apply for any other of the TAMS II schemes with the exception of the Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS).

For those farmers in a registered farm partnership with the Department of Agriculture, they can avail of grant aid to the value of €160,000. This applies to applications with two or more eligible partners.

Partnerships containing one qualifying young farmer grant aid will be paid at 60% on the first €80,000 and 40% for the remaining balance.

Farmers who fail to comply with the terms and conditions of TAMS II may be penalised up to 100% of the grant value, this will occur if farmers do not meet the eligibility criteria.