The Department of Agriculture has prohibited the use of new sheep fencing grants for actions under the GLAS scheme.

In a circular to GLAS advisors in recent days the Department said it had amended the terms and conditions to which farmers signed up to under the first two tranches of the scheme.

It says to avoid the possible issue of double-funding, a fence approved under the TAMS 2 Sheep Fencing Scheme cannot be put along the same location, where a GLAS action that has a fencing component is located.

According to the Department, these GLAS actions include Planting of New Hedgerows, Coppicing,
Laying, Riparian Margins, Traditional Orchards, Planting a Grove of Native Trees, Grey Partridge,
Twite B, and Protection of Water Courses from Bovines.

Farmers can now apply for sheep fencing grant aid under the TAMS II scheme through the Department of Agriculture’s website.

Sheep farmers can now apply online immediately in the current tranche for Sheep Fencing which is included in the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme, the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Organic Scheme.

Applicants are subject to the eligibility criteria of these schemes.

The current round or tranche for applications to these scheme closes on at the end of August, with a new Tranche opening in September until November.

Farmers accepted into the scheme will be eligible for grant aid of €5.34/m for sheep wire with one strand of barbed wire, while the rate increases for those in mountain areas to €8.01/m.

Gateways will also be granted aided and the reference cost is €299.00 per gateway.

Farmers wishing to avail of the grant can see the full list of terms and conditions on the Department’s website, where all applicable costs are available.