The period for which applications can be made for various investments under the TAMS II scheme closes this week.
The closing date for the next tranche for all schemes is March 25, 2016.
According to the Department of Agriculture, up to the end of January several hundred applications had been received for the second tranche.
Tranches under the TAMS II scheme will be organised regularly.
A total of €395m has been made available for TAMS II over the course of the RDP period. The remaining schemes are being launched over the next few months and include:
- Dairy Equipment Scheme.
- Low-Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme.
- Organic Capital Investment Scheme.
- Organic Farming Scheme.
- Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme.
- Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme.
Tranche 1
Over 2,500 farmers applied for grant aid under tranche 1 of the TAMS II scheme 1,122 approvals have issued to date across the various investments.
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 II 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.
New eligible investments
Hopes have been raised that key new investments will be allowed for grant aid under the next tranche of TAMS II.
Late last year, the Department of Agriculture applied to the European Commission for a number of amendments to its Rural Development Plan.
IFA Rural Development Chairman Flor McCarthy said it is important that these are available to farmers in the next tranche of TAMS which commences on March 26.
He said the IFA understands that the Commission has no issue with these amendments to the RDP and are likely to formally approve them shortly.
An early opening date for these additional measures is now required, McCarthy said.