Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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713. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on any available or planned financial supports for farmers who have suffered structural damage to farm buildings as a result of Storm Éowyn on 24 January 2025; if consideration will be given to establishing a dedicated relief fund for farmers facing significant repair costs, particularly where insurance does not cover older sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7848/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) currently provides grant aid for investment in new structures rather than repair of existing structures. The main reason for this approach is that the state of the structure is unknown, which may lead to further issues associated with grant aiding repair work on existing farm sheds. Any proposed work would require sign-off by a structural engineer certifying the building's structural integrity, which would result in additional expense on the farmer.

Where buildings have been significantly damaged it may be more economic to replace the entire structure, rather than attempting to repair the damaged building. In such cases, it is open to farmers to apply for support for the construction of new buildings under TAMS 3.

I am actively examining the extent to which existing investment items that are eligible for support under TAMS 3 may be suitable in the context of the response to Storm Éowyn. I am also considering whether there may be other suitable investment items that may be included in TAMS 3 over the longer term, although this will in turn be dependent on the availability of the required funding.