Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase the level of grants for cattle underpasses under the TAMS 3 scheme as in the case of a person. [2191/24]

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. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.

The Engineer's report in relation to underpasses cannot be included in the cost of the works as the report must be completed prior to application. Approval to commence works cannot issue without the submission of an Engineer's report. The report is required to ensure that the underpass is correctly designed, so that the underpass is structurally sound and that all road safety issues have been addressed.

TAMS is a demand-led scheme with budgetary constraints, and although all investments will be kept under review for the duration of the scheme, I have currently no plans to increase the funding for underpasses.