Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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611. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the target, by year, for the adoption of low emissions slurry spreading (LESS) technology; the intended allocation under TAMS to support same; the target number of farmers in receipt of such funds, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24455/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Nitrates Regulations, Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment must be used for the application of slurry on holdings with a previous year’s grassland stocking rates of 150kg nitrogen per hectare. This is from grazing livestock manure or above prior to export of livestock manure from the holding from 1st January 2023 and for all slurry produced by pigs.

From 1st January 2024, all holdings stocked at more than 130kg nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure or above prior to export of livestock manure from the holding are required to use LESS equipment for the application of slurry and this reduces to 100kg nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure from 1st January 2025.

Funding under the TAMS 3 LESS scheme can be sought by farmers for up to one year after the above dates. The LESS scheme is designed to prioritise the eligible farmers with the highest grazing stocking rates. As with all TAMS 3 schemes, there is no specific funding targets as the scheme is demand led and it is open to farmers to decide if they wish to avail of the funding opportunity to purchase LESS equipment.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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612. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding amount allocated to TAMS by year from 2014 to date; the amount that was allocated and expended in relation to low-emission slurry spreading, LESS, technology; the number of applications and refusals in relation to LESS technology, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24456/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Over €390m was allocated through Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) to the end of 2022 for the full suite of seven TAMS measures including the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (LESS). TAMS is a demand-led scheme and the interest in the LESS measure of TAMS II has been very strong with payments in excess of €71m to date.

TAMS III provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for five years and will include 10 schemes. LESS will continue to have its own standalone investment ceiling of €90,000 and an enhanced grant-rate of 60%. Tranche one of TAMS III is currently open and is due to close on 16th June.

LESS TAMS II

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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613. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of organic farming scheme participants who exited the scheme in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24457/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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623. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of organic farming scheme participants who exited the scheme in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24471/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 623 together.

The table below provides the number of organic farming scheme participants that have exited the scheme in each year from 2019 to date.

The most recent tranche of the Organic Scheme, which opened in October 2022, saw 3,423 eligible applications received. Of these, 2,131 are new to the Organic Farming Scheme and the remaining 1,292 applications are from those whose contracts finished on 31st December 2022.