Over 5,000 farmers who have applied to various TAMS scheme are still awaiting full approval, which is causing undue hardship, according to the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture.
Charlie McConalogue has said that farmers are ‘furious’ at severe delays in the processing of applications under the various Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes.
“TAMS opened last year, but 12 months on from its establishment, more than 5,000 applications are awaiting full approval.”
He also said that many farmers had planned on starting on farm investment projects in May.
“However, the delays in processing their TAMS applications has put many of these projects on hold and leading to increased frustration and anger among farmers across the country.
“I appreciate that some applications have been partially approved, but it is not good enough that 12 months after the TAMS process opened, we are still waiting for funds to be fully approved.
“I have raised the issue with the Agriculture Minister, and according to the reply, which I have received from him, some 5,161 applications have been submitted under the TAMS programme, however only 1,100 have been approved in part as of the end of May.
“Grant aid under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme provides vital funding and enables farmers to upgrade farm buildings and to buy equipment to improve their farm business. Without this essential funding, many farmers will be unable to make the necessary improvements to their farms, stifling their business.”