Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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485. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated annual cost of a scheme (details supplied). [41043/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which is a measure under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, supports a number of measures to improve water quality. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027 for all TAMS 3 measures, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.

The existing measures included in TAMS 3 already contribute to improved water quality.

In particular, the LESS scheme includes measures that contribute to better water quality. The investment items are specifically designed to minimise the surface area to which slurry is applied and ensure that slurry is targeted directly onto the soil, thus avoiding run-off into watercourses.

The installation of solar-powered water pumps and nose pumps, which provides livestock with clean drinking water without requiring direct access to watercourses, is a further measure under TAMS to improve water quality,

I recently announced the opening of the Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme as part of TAMS 3. This measure will have a positive impact on water quality and overall emissions from the sector by encouraging farmers to import organic fertiliser, thus reducing the use of chemical fertilisers on these holdings.

This scheme, together with the enhanced 60% grant aid for all nutrient storage, subject to Commission approval, will assist in achieving improved water quality. This support will provide improved nutrient storage and more appropriate use of all organic manures in times of unpredictable weather patterns.

I will ensure that the list of investment items will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis. The inclusion of further investment categories will, of course, be dependent on the availability of the required funding under the TAMS 3 schemes.