Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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494. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to including combine harvesters in the eligible equipment list for the tillage capital investment scheme under TAMS II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30580/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The TAMS II scheme closed in December 2022. The TAMS 3 scheme opened on the 22nd February 2023 and provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for 5 years with a budget of €370m.

There is currently a wide range of machinery for tillage farmers in the TAMS 3 suite of schemes, including cultivation equipment, seed drills, GPS controlled fertiliser spreaders and GPS controlled sprayers in addition to crop storage and handling facilities.

Ireland’s SWOT Analysis and Needs Assessment for the current CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) identified the need to increase environmental efficiency in the agricultural sector through on farm investment and the adoption of new technologies; the need to support young farmers in accessing finance so they are in a better position to invest in and develop their farm enterprise; and the need to improve animal health and welfare, and farm safety on farms. Additionally, it is a requirement that all eligible investments are directly linked to climate and environment/animal related indicators with a clear and direct benefit for the environment and climate or animal welfare. Further, it is a requirement that funded investments go beyond normal practices and mandatory requirements. The inclusion of combine harvesters in the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme was not seen as meeting the scheme objectives.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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495. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given increasing the maximum funding ceiling for the tillage capital investment scheme under TAMS II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30581/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The TAMS II scheme closed in December 2022. The TAMS 3 scheme opened on the 22nd February 2023 and provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for five years. Under TAMS 3, the ceiling for investment for the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) was reset and increased to €90,000 per holding for the duration of the scheme. This means every farmer who benefited under TAMS II can reapply in full under TAMS 3.

There are no plans to increase the investment ceiling available for TCIS under TAMS 3 in 2023.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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496. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the tillage capital investment scheme under TAMS II in 2022 and 2023; the number of applications submitted under each category; the number of applications approved, and the total spend under each category; the average payment made under each category; if this information will be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30582/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Tillage Capital Investment Scheme under TAMS II closed to applications on 16th December 2022. The breakdown for the years 2022 and 2023 is provided below in tabular form for TAMS II.

It should be noted that approvals issued in 2023 below are for applications received in the last tranche of TAMs II. The first tranche of TAMS 3 opened in February 2023 and will close Friday 30 June. The number of applications received in 2023 will only be known after this date.

TAMS II - Tillage CapitalInvestment Scheme

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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497. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the protein aid scheme to date in 2023; the level of funding allocated to date in 2023; if he intends to increase the overall funding for the scheme in 2024 in order to allow more farmers to partake in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30591/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Protein Aid Scheme is a Voluntary Coupled Income Support under article 33 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.

The scheme is designed to provide a direct financial support for farmers who grow eligible protein crops which fix nitrogen in the soil from the atmosphere, thereby resulting in reduced chemical nitrogen fertiliser dependency.

A budget of €35 million over the lifetime of Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (2023-2027) has been allocated to Protein Aid. This equates to €7 million annually, a significant increase over previous years budgets of €3 million per annum.

Applications for the scheme were made via the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) online application system. The closing date for applications was 29 May. However late applications could be submitted up to midnight on 23 June and the final total number of protein applications is not yet available.