Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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927. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to allowing all organic manures to be stored under the 70% TAMS grant for slurry storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47989/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. My Department is currently engaging with the European Commission with a view to obtaining approval to introduce a Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme under the current CAP Strategic Plan.

The key objective of this scheme, which will be part of TAMS 3, will be to provide improved storage and more appropriate use of all organic manures, which will be a key factor in delivering improved sustainability in the farming sector. An improved distribution of nutrients across Irish farms combined with good nutrient storage management and the targeted, timely use of this valuable resource will improve environmental and economic sustainability and has the potential to significantly reduce reliance on imported chemical fertiliser.

I am proposing a higher grant of 70% In order to encourage farmers to invest in organic fertiliser storage facilities to allow for the importation of organic fertilisers onto their holding. It is envisaged that this higher rate will be available for the provision of new organic fertiliser storage facilities for farmers with contracts in place to import organic fertiliser with the exact specifics of the scheme yet to be defined.

I am confident that this measure will have a positive impact on water quality and overall emissions form the sector by encouraging farmers to import organic fertiliser thus reducing the use of chemical fertilisers on these holdings.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In 2023 the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability (CRISS) and ECO schemes replaced BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) and Greening payments.

The above-named herd applied on 5^thApril 2023 under the BISS and associated schemes.

In 2022, €1,915.91 was paid to the applicant at advance payment stage, comprising €1,330.49 BPS and €582.42 in Greening payments. The BISS and CRISS advance payment in 2023 has been made and totalled €1,401.07 comprising €1,112.36 BISS and €277.10 in CRISS payments.

The herd owner has applied for the ECO scheme, however they have yet to receive payment. The herd owner opted for AP1 standard and AP2 using 2023 stock. 2023 Eco payment cannot issue until early 2024 to ensure that the stocking rate for 2023 is validated. The payment rate for ECO has been set at €67/ ha and based on the applicants total claim the ECO payment once cleared will be in excess of €600.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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929. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the announced 70% TAMS grant for slurry storage facilities, if consideration has been given to providing a rebate for transport of slurry as part of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47992/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. I wish to advise that On Farm Capital Investmentsis included as a measure under the current CAP Strategic Plan to provide support for capital investments on farms. Any operational support for transport cannot be included in the proposed grant aid as it is outside the remit of TAMS.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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930. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information on the distribution of a fund (details supplied) in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47993/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund), under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.

The Fund is distributed in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, with 80% going to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and 20% to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ).

The part of question raised by the Deputy as it relates to prize fund distribution is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, that part of the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.

The information the Deputy has requested in relation to the Fund distribution for the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 is contained in the table below.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Distribution (the Fund) from 2021 to date in 2023

My Department makes payments from the Fund to both bodies in instalments