Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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112. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will confirm whether all successful applicants for the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 under the rural development programme 2014-20, which provides grants to farmers to build or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings, will receive approval in early December 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43353/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are six schemes involved in the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme TAMS II. These are:

- The Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme

- Dairy Equipment Scheme

- Organic Capital Investment Scheme

- Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme

- Low Emission Slurry Spreading

- Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme.

All schemes are launched and applications are invited and assessed on a tranche-based system as required under the Rural Development Programme.

The closing dates for all schemes under the first tranches have now passed, with the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Organic capital Investment Scheme being the latest to close on the 30 November 2015. All applications received across the six schemes are being examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. This is a complex process and my Department is required to evaluate, rank and assess all applications received under any given tranche together.

Applications cannot be approved individually or on a rolling basis as they are submitted.  It is anticipated that approvals will commence shortly and will continue throughout December and into the New Year.