The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has now approved over 80% of tranche 4 applications made under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3).

TAMS provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding.

The scheme is is jointly funded by the national exchequer and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union under Ireland’s RDP 2014-2022 and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

The latest data, published by the department, shows that 4,890 (83%) out of the 5,864 applications made in tranche 4 have been approved.

585 applications are still being processed, 262 have been rejected, and 127 withdrawn from the scheme.

The following table provides the latest update on tranche 4 applications for the 10 schemes contained in TAMS 3:

The department has also confirmed that 54 applications made under tranche 2 of TAMS are still being processed.

8,171 out of 9,110 applications made under that round have secured approval.

There are also 46 cases outstanding in tranche 3. The department said that 3,385 of the 3,799 tranche 3 applications have been given the green light.

No update has yet been provided on the status of applications made under tranches 5 or 6.

A new tranche of TAMS 3 is currently open in response to the unprecedented damage caused to the agriculture sector by Storm Éowyn.

The specific items in respect of which applications will be accepted by the department until March 28 includes backup PTO (power take-off) generators; sheep, bovine and equine fencing; wood and biomass chippers and mulchers.

The scope of generators supported by TAMS has also been reviewed to include all generators, irrespective of the drive mechanism.

Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said that his department ensures that decisions and payments are made within the deadlines agreed under the Farmers' Charter of Rights.

The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy who asked about the length of time it takes for the payment of TAMS grants.

"In the event of a payment claim inspection being required, my department issues a letter within 20 working days of the date of inspection, setting out the nature of the query and the likely consequences if not resolved.

"In addition to the pre-selected cases, files may be nominated for an inspection due to deficiencies found during processing that cannot be resolved by query letters and submission of additional documentation," the minister said.

Minister Heydon added that payment is approved within two months of the receipt of the claim for payment, including valid supporting documents and the completion of investments in accordance with specification.

"As applications are dealt with on a case by case basis, and are dependent on all information being submitted within expected time lines, there may be occasions where more complex cases may not be dealt with within the agreed time frame," he said.