Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

114. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans for further supports or funding to be made available for structural damage to farm buildings during Storm Éowyn, where an application was not made during the emergency TAMS 3 tranche, or whether there is another existing scheme to which farmers can apply for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36662/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grant aid to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings, many of which will assist in making farms more resilient in the face of future storms.

Applications are currently being accepted for tranche 9 of the scheme, which includes investment items that were available under the emergency tranche, which closed in at the end of March.

In addition to the range of over 400 investments that are currently available in TAMS 3, and to aid further resilience on farm holdings, I recently announced plans to introduce grant aid support under TAMS for replacement of roofs. The application process for this specific investment will be available later this year, when systems are developed. In the meantime, I would urge farmers to carry out a structural assessment of their farm buildings.

I believe that the suite of measures currently available in TAMS 3 is the best mechanism for ensuring that funding is targeted at the most appropriate enterprises. I will also ensure that investment items and ceilings for grant aid will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis, however any additions/increases will be dependent on the availability of the required funding.