Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the problems that are arising with TAMS II, whereby co-ops are providing loans to farmers to purchase equipment but the co-ops are still in ownership of the equipment and the farmers are being refused due to the fact they cannot provide proof of ownership (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2100/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Terms and Conditions of the TAMS II Scheme are very specific and state that applicants must have fully paid for the investments before grant aid issues. Only payments made prior to submission of the TAMS II payment claim can be considered as an eligible cost.

The extract from the Terms and Conditions states;

"Grant aid will not be paid in respect of new equipment or investments unless full ownership thereof has been transferred to the applicant prior to the lodgment of the payment claim. Full ownership is defined as when the applicant has fully paid for the investment".

There are no plans to change these conditions.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate an urgent review of the procedures involved in applying for TAMS grants in view of the experience of so many farmers frustrated by the bureaucracy involved and the resultant long delays in the issuance of payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2120/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Applications for payment for investment work undertaken under the TAMS Schemes are lodged online. Each application is examined and payments are issued where the applications are deemed to be eligible and in order. In a certain number of cases there are issues which need to be resolved before payment can issue.  In all cases where issues arise with payment claims Department officials are in direct contact with individual farmers to progress claims towards early payment.