Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which opened for applications in February 2023, provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.

Applications received prior to the opening of TAMS 3 have all been assessed by my Department. These fall under the TAMS II scheme, which closed for applications in December 2022. My Department has been in contact with those applicants that have not yet received approval to outline deficiencies in their applications that are preventing them from being progressed further.

As mentioned, Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 opened in February 2023 with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme, and closed on 30 June 2023. More than 8,200 applications were received across ten separate investment measures (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2). To date 5,635 approval letters for Tranche 1 applications have issued.

Tranche 2 closed on 19 January 2024, with more than 9,000 applications received. As was the case under Tranche 1, a priority approval mechanism is available for those who require urgent approval to proceed with works. Applicants or their advisors can contact their Department of Agriculture local office in this regard. Their application will then be assessed to determine whether there is an urgent need to issue approval, and prioritised accordingly.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

530. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline changes made by an organisation (details supplied) to support breeders outside of the changes made to assist SCEP participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10663/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The named organisation is owned and operated by industry stakeholders and charged with ensuring stakeholder responsibility for the direction of livestock breeding in Ireland. The breeding direction and development and operation of Breeding indices are therefore a matter for ICBF. Pedigree breeders are represented on the Board of the organisation.

The organisation has recently established a stakeholder forum, which aims to respond to concerns raised by stakeholders, particularly those impacted by the recent amendments to breeding indexes.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

531. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can clarify the measures in place to ensure equal opportunity for all farmers in the ACRES programme (details supplied); the plans to approve all applications which were submitted in the ACRES program's second tranche; if the ACRES programme will be expanded to accommodate the high volume of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10820/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the ACRES scheme is to help farmers to address a range of environmental, climate and biodiversity and challenges, and to contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in this respect in Ireland's 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan. The tiered structure, and the criteria for acceptance into the Scheme, were therefore designed to optimise the extent to which the Scheme actions could contribute to those objectives.

As I have stated previously, I have committed to permitting 50,000 participants in the Scheme, in accordance with Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan and I will deliver on that commitment.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

532. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a young farmer payment will issue to persons (details supplied). [10830/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The persons named submitted applications under the young farmer category of the 2023 National Reserve and also the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers. The National Reserve application was successful, and the persons named were notified of this outcome on 22^nd February. Payment based on the allocation from the National Reserve will issue as soon as possible.

Processing of the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers application is ongoing as there are some remaining eligibility and verification checks to be carried out. A member of staff of my Department will be in direct contact with the person named where there is further information required regarding the application.