Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1737. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase TAMS grants on calf feeders, in recognition of the promotion of dairy calf to beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63138/22]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1738. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase TAMS grants on calf sheds, in recognition of the promotion of dairy calf to beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63139/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1737 and 1738 together.

There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II. To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS II, including transitional expenditure, is €390m with commitments of an additional €117m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments.

The rate of grant aid for TAMS II is set at 40% except in the case of qualified young farmers where the rate of grant aid available to such farmers is increased to 60%.

In relation to TAMS III, changes to the support for capital investments are subject to a Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment and Commission approval. It is proposed to reset the investment ceiling to €90,000 and include proposed increased grant rates for specified investments in farm safety, the Lower Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme, the Organic Capital Investment scheme and the Solar Scheme which will include those eligible from the Dairy Sector to apply in TAMS III in 2023. In the case of eligible qualified young farmers and women farmers, the rate of grant aid available will be increased to 60%.

The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised. All reference costs for new and existing investments are also being reviewed.