Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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315. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to reviewing the proposed ten-unit cap on milking parlours under the TAMS scheme, in view of this parlour size being inadequate, to ensure that two generations of farming families can make a reasonable living from dairy farming together with other factors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53933/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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TAMS has proven itself to be a really important and popular scheme which has driven important farm investments. To date, expenditure under TAMS II has exceeded €379m. Payments under the TAMS II scheme continue to issue on an ongoing basis. TAMS continues to be a hugely successful and beneficial scheme, and I am delighted that it will continue in 2023 in a bigger and better way with a stronger emphasis on environmental investments.

Dairy farmers will continue to be included in TAMS schemes from 2023 onwards. There will also be some changes including a proposed resetting of the investment ceiling to €90,000 and proposed increased grant rates for specified investments that will form part of TAMS 3. The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised.

TAMS is a demand-led scheme and as such reviews of investments and their uptake along with budgetary constraints will continue to take place during the lifetime of the scheme

These changes are subject to approval of the Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment by the European Commission. The amendment is currently with the Monitoring Committee of the RDP for their views before its formal submission to the Commission.