Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1225.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons that applicants to the dairy equipment scheme cannot receive funding for a robotic milking machine if they previously received grant aid under TAMS for this item; if he will consider reviewing this matter and removing this criterion from this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34205/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The list of investments available to farmers in the TAMS 3 Dairy Equipment Scheme has been considerably expanded compared to what was available under TAMS II.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage farmers to invest in areas such as slurry storage, animal housing and silage storage in order to protect water quality and animal welfare. When expansion and development is taking place on a holding, it is important that farmers are encouraged to invest in housing, slurry storage and feed storage prior to increasing animal numbers.

A farmer who purchased a robotic milking machine under TAMS II will have used their full ceiling for the robotic milking machine. If they purchase a second robotic milking machine under TAMS 3, they will have used their full investment ceiling on milking equipment and will have no TAMS allocation remaining to expend on investments to protect the environment, water quality and animal welfare.

There has been a strong uptake of all investments available under the Dairy Capital Investment Scheme, and I currently have no plans to change the criteria relating to robotic milking machines.