Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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116. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 will commence; if farmers in dairying will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41981/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new TAMS measure will make €395m 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 October and for the Low Emission Slurry Spreading scheme on the 20 November. The first tranches for the Organic Capital Investment Scheme and the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme will be closing on the 30 November. 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. I am aware that a number of farmers with proposed investments in dairy equipment are keen to commence work as quickly as possible. My Department is working to process approvals as quickly as possible and to make payments at the earliest possible juncture.