Written answers

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of grants that have been paid out on solar panels under TAMS; his plans to increase the rate of grant to 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62125/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS. Solar energy for on-farm use is grant aided under the Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage and Safety Scheme, Young Farmers Capitals Investment Scheme, the Organic Capital Investment Scheme and the Pig and Poultry Scheme measures under TAMS. The solar PV systems grant aided under TAMS includes Solar PV Panels and Solar PV Rechargeable Batteries.

To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has exceeded €325million with commitments of an additional €145million made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those grants. Some 45,595 applications have been approved under the scheme.

To date, my Department has provided grant-aid to 100 applicants in excess of €777,319 for the installation of solar panels, and the associated inverters, controllers and battery packs. There are approximately a further 70 applications of €530,000 in funding that is committed for solar projects but has not yet being claimed. No changes to the TAMS eligibility and technical criteria involved are being proposed at this time.

The On-Farm Capital investment scheme, as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission. The public consultation on the Environmental Assessment of the draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 closed on 8th December 2021, and I will be reviewing the proposal in advance of the submission of the proposal to the Commission by 1st January 2022.

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