Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

TAMS has been a very successful scheme since its inception. TAMS II provided more than €427 million to farmers to encourage modernisation and it is envisaged TAMS III will be just as successful. The level of uptake in tranche 1 of TAMS III proved the interest farmers have in improving animal welfare and contributing to climate change. The success of the scheme and the large number of applications involved led to increased processing times. Priority approvals are issued to tranche 1 applicants who require slurry and manure storage facilities or urgent animal welfare-related investments. The processing of applications is nearing completion. Approvals for the solar capital investment scheme will issue shortly, with all approvals for all other measures to follow. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, thanks the Senator for raising the important topic of TAMS III. It will be open for applications until 2027 and will grant-aid farmers a sum of some €370 million over the coming years. This money will improve farm buildings, encourage self-consumption of renewable energy, encourage generational renewal and help farmers meet the considerable costs associated with updating their farms.