Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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605. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received payments under the areas of natural constraint scheme in 2022 under each category and payment rate; the average number of hectares on which land was claimed in each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24448/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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614. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received payments under the areas of specific constraint islands scheme in 2022, under each category and payment rate; the average number of hectares on which land was claimed in each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24458/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 614 together.

The Areas of Natural and other Specific Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems, and poor soil conditions.

Support is provided based on the following categories of land::

Category 1 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 1 is characterised by extensive farming practices focused on livestock management on higher ground (€148 up to 12 ha and €112 on 12-34 ha);

Category 2 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 2 is characterised by extensive livestock grazing practices on lower ground (€111 up to 10 ha and €104 on 10-30 ha); and

Category 3 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 3 is less extensive in nature and characterised by grazing livestock enterprises (€93 up to 8 ha and €88.25 on 8-30 ha).

Please see information requested by the Deputy in the table below for the ANC scheme year 2022.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the sheep welfare scheme in 2022; the number of breeding ewes on which payment was made; the rate of payment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24450/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the terms and conditions of the Sheep Welfare Scheme, the rate of payment is set at €10 per eligible breeding ewe on completion by the participant of both of their selected scheme actions. Payment is made up to the applicable reference number of animals determined for payment for the scheme year.

Please see the information requested below as regards the number of participants and breeding ewes on which payment was made during 2022 for Year 6 of the scheme, broken down by county. Note the payment relates to a 85% advance payment, which commenced issuing in November 2022. The remaining 15% balancing payment is due to issue shortly.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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607. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the tillage incentive scheme from March 2022 to date, in tabular form by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24451/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The 2022 Tillage Incentive Scheme was announced in March 2022 as part of a support package for farmers in direct response to the situation in Ukraine.

The scheme opened to online applicants on 27th June 2022. The online portal remained open until 20th July 2022, with some 4,123 individuals applying to participate in the scheme.

Payments commenced in December 2022 and to date payments in excess of €10.1 million have issued to 3,831 beneficiaries. Payments are continuing as further cases become eligible.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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608. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the fodder incentive scheme in 2022 and to date in 2023, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24452/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, the Deputy will be aware that on the 15th of June 2022, I announced the launch of the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme. The aim of the scheme was to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) to ensure Ireland does not have any animal welfare issues over the 2022 winter and 2023 spring.

Building on the success of the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme, on 2nd of November 2022, I launched the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme.

The 2023 Fodder Support Scheme is a continuation of the 2022 Scheme and only successful applicants for the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme were eligible to apply for the 2023 Scheme, which closed at midnight on 5th of December 2022.

The table below indicates the number of successful applicants in both the 2022 and 2023 Fodder Support Scheme as of 18th of May 2023.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in receipt of TAMS III, by county, under each category of the payment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24453/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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TAMS 3 provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for five years and will include 10 schemes. As it is just in its first tranche there are no farmers yet approved for payment.

The first 6 of the TAMS 3 Schemes - Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS), Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS), Pigs and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS), Organics Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS), Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES) and the Low Emissions Slurry Spreading Scheme (LESS) have opened for applications. The remaining schemes, Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS), Farm Safety Scheme (FSS), Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) and Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) will open on a phased basis. The terms and conditions of each scheme will be published prior to the launch date.

It is anticipated that the first Tranche for all schemes will close on 16th June 2023. The scheme does not operate on a first come first served basis and all applications will go through a ranking and selection process after the closing date.

Selected applications will be subject to further checks by my Department before an approval to proceed with the proposed investments issues.