The next tranche of TAMS II won’t include sheep fending and grain storage, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The Department has confirmed that the third tranche for all schemes for TAMS II will open on March 26, 2016.
It also confirmed to Agriland that it is awaiting confirmation from the Commission on the inclusion of sheep fencing as an investment item and the provision of a dedicated Tillage Scheme in TAMS II to include investment in grain stores.
However, the Department confirmed that sheep fencing and grain stores will not be included in Tranche 3 of TAMS II.
The Minister had come under sustained pressure from farm organisations over the initial exclusion of sheep fencing and tillage investments from the TAMS II grant schemes.
However, Budget 2016 has seen a €35.8m allocation for TAMS II which will also provide funding for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme which will be at the higher grant rate of 60%.
Also benefitting from the scheme will be Dairy equipment, Organic Capital Investments, Pig and Poultry and as already stated Sheep fencing. It will also provide funding for the recently opened Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (LESS).
TAMS approvals
Thousands of farmers still waiting for approvals for farm building investments under the first tranche of the TAMS II scheme.
Much of the delay in the issuing of approvals by the Department of Agriculture appears to stem from difficulties surrounding the IT system developed for the TAMS II scheme. All applications for grant aid under the scheme must be completed online.
However, this week Department spokesperson has told Agriland.ie that it is anticipated that the TAMS IT approval system to facilitate the finalisation of all approvals will be in place at the end of March.
All outstanding approvals will then commence with a view to payments for approved investments commencing in June.