Payments were issued to farmers under TAMS II (the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II) at an average rate of over €1 million/week this month.
TAMS II payments equalled €5 million in August, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, confirmed today.
The department also issued €3.2 million in Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) payments during the eighth month of this year.
This latest run of TAMS II payments brings the total amount of money issued to farmers to date to over €21.25 million.
According to Minister Creed, the level of TAMS II payments issued in August reflects the significant on-farm investment underway in Ireland, as farmers continue to develop their enterprises.
We will continue to make payments on a weekly basis. I would urge all farmers to proceed with their approved investments and to submit these for payment as soon as the works have been completed to allow for payment to issue.
The online payments system remains open to participants to submit their payment claims as soon as the approved works are completed, the department explained.
As it stands, over 1,500 farmers have reportedly received their payment to date – with payments being processed on an ongoing basis. The current tranche of this scheme closes for new applications on October 6, 2017.
GLAS payments
Meanwhile, the department also confirmed that it has paid out €3 million to GLAS participants in the past fortnight.
This brings the total amount paid out to farmers under the scheme to date to €144 million, in respect of 2016 actions. The department continues to make balancing payments to eligible GLAS participants, Minister Creed added.
4,000 farmers received their balancing payment in the last two weeks as a direct result of submitting their Farm Nutrient Management Plan (NMP).
“Further GLAS payments to GLAS I and GLAS II participants can only be made when their plan has been submitted and I would encourage all GLAS participants to work with their advisor and have this plan submitted as soon as possible,” he said.
The minister also outlined that there are less than 950 GLAS participants who must submit outstanding documentation or other information to the department, if their 2016 payment is to be processed.
Minister Creed encouraged these applicants to respond to the department as quickly as possible in order to try and advance their payment. The department will continue to make ongoing payments to eligible participants on a weekly basis, he added.