Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1577. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a number of concerns from a farming organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13524/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I'm delighted to say that TAMS continues the priority attached to supporting young farmers. A grant rate of 60% is available under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme on all eligible investments as opposed to the grant rate of 40% available under the Dairy Equipment Scheme. This continues my commitment to achieving the inter-generational renewal which is needed in Irish agriculture.

For applicants under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) and also for registered farm partnerships involving a young farmer, the limit on cow numbers for the preceding year is set at 160 dairy cows. For those applicants under the YFCIS who have between 121 and 160 cows, there will be a requirement that they may not increase cow numbers for five years following payment of grant-aid on the milking machine. I can also confirm that the limit relates only to the milking machine investments and does not apply to any other investments under any of the 10 Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) that are being put in place. Over 78% of dairy herds will remain eligible to apply for milking machine investments under the 120 cow ceiling, based on 2021 data and the average dairy herd has 90 dairy cows.

This requirement is being introduced to encourage dairy farmers to invest in environmentally and animal welfare beneficial structures. Ireland’s SWOT Analysis and Needs Assessment for the CAP strategic plan identified the need to increase environmental efficiency in the agricultural sector through on farm investment and the adoption of new technologies; the need to support young farmers in accessing finance so they are in a better position to invest in and develop their farm enterprise; and the need to improve animal health and welfare, and farm safety on farms.

When a farmer is planning to update their system, investment in the milking machine is only a portion of the required investment. It is important that dairy farmers also invest in animal housing, slurry storage, fodder storage and making their holding more accessible. To this end, TAMS is designed to encourage farmers to invest in these animal welfare and environmentally beneficial investments before investing in additional milking equipment. In addition to the investments being carried over from TAMS II there is a wide range of additional investments being introduced for farmers, including farm roadways, bovine fencing, health and fertility monitoring systems, automatic drafting systems, public road underpasses and milk recording systems, to name just a few.