Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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483. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available to farmers who are not young farmers in relation to building a slatted shed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22198/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 the following investments have been identified as priority areas to be targeted in the new TAMS scheme:

(i) a young farmer capital investment scheme,

(ii) dairy equipment,

(iii) low emission spreading equipment,

(iv) organic capital investment,

(v) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities) farm nutrient storage and animal housing, and

(vi) pig and poultry investments in energy, water meters and medicine dispensers.

I have already launched the new Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, the Terms and Conditions of which are available on my Department’s website. Under the Animal Welfare, Farm Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme grant aid will be available for investments in animal housing including slatted sheds, animal welfare, farm safety and slurry storage.  This Scheme along with the other TAMS II schemes will be rolled out as soon as possible and will be open to all farmers, offering a standard rate of aid of 40%.