Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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99. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when TAMS 2 will be introduced, as a number of farmers are awaiting the introduction of same to enable them to proceed with intended investment in these areas and the introduction of same may be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42614/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. The following investments have been identified as priority areas which will be targeted in the initial stages:- (i) dairy equipment, (ii) low emission spreading equipment, (iii) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities), (iv) pig and poultry investments in energy, water meters and medicine dispensers, (v) organic capital investment, and (vi) a young farmer capital investment scheme. TAMS II will subsequently be expanded to cover farm nutrient storage and animal housing.The new schemes can only be openedwhen EU Commission approval for the Programme has been received. That process is well underway at this stage butit is not possible at this stage to fix definitive dates for theirintroduction.