Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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646. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has considered the use of cattle grids as a livestock management measure in Ireland, including in comparison with practices in other jurisdictions such as Scotland; whether barriers to their wider use have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49017/26]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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In the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2021/2115) establishes rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy. It stipulates that support measures must be linked to Climate, Environment and Animal Welfare and to ensure the economic sustainability of the agriculture sector.

Under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.

TAMS 3 is a demand led scheme within a defined allocated budget. As a result, it is not possible at this time to consider adding further items to the comprehensive list of investment items already provided under TAMS.

I will ensure that the list of investment items will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis.