The deadline for applications under tranche 18 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) has been extended by two weeks.

The development was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on its Twitter page earlier today, Tuesday, August 4.

The closing date for applications is now midnight on Friday, August 21.

Calls for increased funding

In other TAMS-related news, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Dara Calleary was recently called on to increase funding under the most recent tranche of TAMS, to reflect the fact that the application period was extended.

The last tranche was run for five months, which was an extension of two months on the typical length of a TAMS tranche. This extension was put in place due to the disruption caused by Covid-19.

As a result, there was a significant increase in the number of applications for that tranche, which closed on June 5.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has said that an “appropriate increase” in the funding is required to take account of the two-month extension.

“The point is that this tranche will need funding proportionate to the extended period,” said Denis Drennan, chairperson of the ICMSA’s Farm Services and Rural Affairs Committee.

“We expect an application of common sense that will see more money being allocated to this tranche and, in the context of Covid-19, it would provide a welcome boost to economic activity in rural areas,” he added.