Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

61. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if dribble bars can be included in the new TAMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11442/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Through TAMS 3, I believe we have delivered a hugely exciting scheme that will deliver for farmers, for the entire agri-food sector and the wider rural economy over the next number of years. I have assigned €370m for TAMS between 2023 and 2027 with a strong focus on supporting this as well as subsequent generation of farmers

TAMS 3 is a hugely exciting scheme with approximately 100 new investment items available to farm families compared to TAMS 2. There are now in the region of 300 investment items in TAMS 3.

The practice of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) is an important environmentally sustainable technology that will facilitate Ireland meeting its environmental commitments through reductions in ammonia and other reactive nitrogen emissions from soil.

The practice leads to greater nutrient recovery from slurries and indirectly improved nutrient use efficiency, as well as a reduced dependency on chemical fertilisers. I am currently reviewing the emissions factor of the dribble bar versus the trailing shoe. I have not definitively ruled out the dribble bar and I will be led by the science in making this decision.

To date under TAMS II, 70% of expenditure under LESS was grant aided for dribble bar machines. While each of the LESS options meet nitrate requirements, it is important that the number of trailing shoe units on farms is maximised to help contribute to the agreed 25% reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions and 5% ammonia reduction from the agriculture sector by 2030.

To meet the emissions reductions target for both GHGs and ammonia it is necessary for 90% of the slurry produced to be spread using LESS technology by 2030. It is assumed in these targets that 50% of the slurry will be applied using trailing shoe technology and 50% by trailing hose (dribble bar). In 2020, twice as much slurry was being spread using trailing shoe as opposed to trailing hose (dribble bar), however, with the much greater number of trailing hose (dribble bar) machines having already been grant-aided, this balance is at significant risk of being reversed.

The reduction of emission during slurry spreading is a crucial element in meeting the agricultural emissions reduction targets.

Low Emissions Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment will continue to have its own standalone investment ceiling and an enhanced grant-rate of 60% compared to a lower rate of 40% in TAMS II in respect of investments which will more than offsets the potential higher cost of the trailing shoe compared to the trailing hose (dribble bar).