Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have received approval under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 to date; the number it is expected to approve between now and the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41249/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new TAMS measure will make €395 million available to Irish farmers for investing in on-farm infrastructure, facilities and equipment. All TAMS schemes have been opened and the applications received under the first tranches of both the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme are now being processed. The first tranche for the Pig and Poultry Scheme closed on the 30^thOctober and for the Low Emission Slurry Spreading scheme on the 20^thNovember. The first tranches for the Organic Capital Investment Scheme and the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme will be closing on the 30^thNovember. Interest in TAMS to date has exceeded expectations and clearly many Irish farmers are looking once again at the benefits of investing in their enterprises and expanding production. Under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme a total of 520 applications have been received, while over a thousand applications have been submitted for the Dairy Equipment Scheme.

All applications received are being examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. This is a complex process and as all applications for TAMS 2 must be made under a tranche-based approach, we are required to evaluate, rank and assess all applications received together. My Department is working to ensure approvals issue at the earliest possible juncture.