Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant assistance is available to a herd owner (details supplied) in County Cork to apply for a partial reimbursement of the costs associated with the construction of a new milking parlour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28059/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have recently announced the opening of the new TAMS II Dairy Equipment Scheme.  This is the second of the new Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.  An indicative allocation of €50m is being made available under the terms of this Scheme over the full RDP period.  The total allocation for the various on farm investment Schemes planned under TAMS II, including the Dairy Equipment Scheme, is €395m over the course of the programme. The specific areas of investment will include milking machines, milk cooling and storage equipment, water heating and in-parlour feeding systems; however there is no provision for the construction of dairy buildings.  The Scheme is open to all farmers who meet the general eligibility criteria, offering a standard rate of aid of 40%.  It is a strict condition of all the Department’s on farm investment measures that grant-aid shall not be paid in respect of works already commenced or equipment purchased before written approval has issued to a farmer under the Scheme concerned.