Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue is being called on to ensure that applicants for tranche 20 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) “receive their approvals without further delay”.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said this morning (Friday, March 12) that the approval process is “far too slow” and that farmers “must obtain TAMS approval to allow them commence work on farms without delay”.

Michael Biggins, the association’s rural development chairperson, called for all applicants from the latest tranche, including applicants carried over from previous tranches, to receive approval.

The application process for tranche 20 closed on January 15.

“[We] are urging the minister to ensure that the delays in previous tranches are addressed. The problem with delays will continue unless the carryover is resolved,” Biggins said.

“This issue must be rectified to avoid on-farm investment plans stalling,” he added.

Biggins pointed out that only around 70% of applicants have been approved for the last two tranches.

Unsuccessful applicants have been carried forward, leaving them facing uncertain situations concerning their investments.

“I am calling on the minister for agriculture to clarify that there will be at least three more tranches in 2021 and that the next TAMS tranche will open for applications immediately after Tranche 21 closes on April 16,” the IFA rural development chair said.

He also called for no gap in time between the closing of one tranche and the opening of the next.