Tranche 20 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), which opens for applications this Saturday (November 14), will remain open until mid-January.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has announced that the closing date for tranche 20 will be extended beyond the original close date of December 31.
The reason for the extension, according to the minister, is that the original closing date falls over the Christmas period, which may increase delays for farmers filling out applications.
“The extension will ensure that both farmers and their advisors have the required time to complete all the necessary paperwork and will not be under pressure to complete applications,” the minister added.
He continued: “I am advising farmers and their advisors to use this time wisely and not to leave applications until the last minute.
TAMS has been a hugely successful and beneficial scheme since its inception. It has delivered key modernisation, environmental and safety improvements on thousands of farms while also boosting local economies in the construction phase of developments.
“There are still a considerable amount of outstanding approvals out there with farmers and I would urge them to conclude the investment work and apply for the payment as soon as possible.
“Any farmer looking to receive their grant by the end of the year should work with their advisor immediately to submit their payment claim now,” Minister McConalogue urged.