Latest news with #TAMS
Agriland
12-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Investments being ‘postponed' due to planning exemption delay
Farmers are now postponing their on-farm slurry storage investments due to the delay in the government confirming the exemption to planning rules for storage infrastructure. That is according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), which said that the postponing of investments is 'hugely regrettable' in the context of our efforts to improve water quality. The farm organisation called for 'immediate government action' to address this delay. Eamon Carroll, the ICMSA deputy president, said: 'The current limbo that some farmers find themselves in is due to the delay in publishing the long-awaited planning exemption on slurry storage, and a level of clarity could be brought to this issue in a matter of days if the political will is there to do so. 'Farmers took the government announcement in autumn 2024 in good faith that a planning exemption would be in place in January 2025 and six months later, we are no further on. 'The reality is that if a farmer had applied for planning permission in January 2025, they would be through the process at this stage in most cases, but they took the government's word on this issue and are now in limbo, unable to invest,' Carroll said. The ICMSA is calling on the government to outline exactly what it is proposing; what will be allowed and not allowed under the planning exemption; and what date the exemption will be in place from. 'Based on this information, a farmer can make a judgement call to wait for exemption or go ahead and apply for planning permission,' Carroll said. 'It is hugely disappointing that at this stage, many farmers are going to miss out on the best months of the year for doing storage investment on their farm…this is really hampering farmer efforts in terms of improving water quality. 'This needs to stop,' he added, calling on the government to immediately publish the detail and allow farmers to make and informed decision on how to proceed with water quality investments on their farmers. 'Farmers are willing to do their part and the government needs to step up immediately on this issue,' he added. The relevant ministers have previously indicated that exemption under planning rules for slurry storage is 'expected' to be in place to coincide with the tranche of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) that is set to open on September 6 and close on December 5. At the beginning of April, a delegation from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) met with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State with responsibility for housing, John Cummins, on the promised exemption for stand-alone slurry storage. It was during this meeting that the September timeline was given, it is understood.
Agriland
10-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
DAFM: Over 80% of TAMS tranche 5 applications approved
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that over 80% of the applications made under tranche 5 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) have been approved. The scheme, which is divided across a range of different measures, provides grants to farmers to build or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their farm. According to the latest data published by the department, 4,731 (81%) out of the 5,823 applications submitted under this tranche have now been approved. Some 716 applications are 'in progress', 305 have been rejected by the department, while 71 have been withdrawn. The following table provides the latest update on tranche 5 applications for the 10 schemes contained in TAMS 3: TAMS 3 scheme Applications Rejected Withdrawn In progress Approved Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme 1,409 70 26 133 1,180 Dairy Equipment Scheme 115 9 1 19 86 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme 2,112 127 17 199 1,769 Low Emission Slurry Spreading 516 2 5 3 506 Organic Capital Investment Scheme 359 13 3 41 302 Pig & Poultry Investment Scheme 32 2 1 8 21 Solar Capital Investment Scheme 513 29 4 220 260 Tillage Capital Investment Scheme 203 11 5 11 176 Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 225 20 1 39 165 Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 339 22 8 43 266 Total 5,823 305 71 716 4,731 TAMS 3 tranche 5 applications. Source: DAFM 143 applications made under tranche 4 are still being processed by the department. 5,262 out of 5,864 applications made under that tranche have been approved. There are 20 applications still outstanding in tranche 3. The department said 3,401 of the 3,799 tranche 3 applications have been approved. TAMS Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, recently confirmed that all eligible applications received under tranches 6, 7 and 8 of TAMS 3 will be approved. Tranche 6 closed to applications on March 7, 2025, with 4,931 applications received across the 11 schemes. Tranche 7, the emergency tranche, which was opened in response to Storm Éowyn, closed for applications on March 28, with 1,945 applications submitted in respect of the agreed emergency investments. Tranche 8 closed for applications on Friday June 6, with approximately 5,000 applications received. Tranche 9 of the scheme is now open. However, the minister warned that the department will need to be 'mindful of the budget available for the remaining TAMS tranches'. Over €70.5 million has issued to over 8,000 applicants under the scheme, with payments of approximately €2 million continuing to issue on a weekly basis. 'In order to ensure that the available budget is distributed fairly over the remainder of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Strategic Plan, it may be necessary to limit the number of approved applications per tranche going forward by applying ranking and selection criteria, including for the upcoming Tranche 9, which opened on June 7 and will close on September 6,' Minister Heydon said.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Farm investment boom puts squeeze on TAMS fund
Future applications may be subject to ranking in order stay within budget Today at 21:30 Farmers are being warned that future applications for TAMS grants may face tougher rules, as the Department scrambles to keep the scheme within budget. Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon has confirmed that applications under the next tranche of TAMS may be subject to ranking and selection criteria for the first time due to 'prudent budget management'. Over 42,000 applications have flooded in under the scheme since February 2023, with nearly 12,000 of those submitted in just the last three tranches, which closed between March and early June. The surge comes off the back of strong beef and dairy prices, which have given many farmers the confidence to invest in sheds, safety equipment and renewables. Extra demand also followed emergency supports introduced after Storm Éowyn. The total TAMS budget under the current CAP is €370m, set to run until 2027. But with €70.5m already paid out to just 8,000 farmers, should the remaining 34,000 applicants invest in similarly sized projects, it could cost a further €300m if all are approved, nearly wiping out the scheme's budget with over two years still to go. In a statement last weekend, Mr Heydon hailed the success of the scheme and said around €2m in payments are issuing to farmers on a weekly basis. However, he warned TAMS is a demand-led scheme with a defined budgetary allocation. 'Given that we are now just halfway through the current CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), it is prudent that we are mindful of the budget available for the remaining TAMS tranches. 'In order to ensure that the available budget is distributed fairly over the remainder of the CSP, it may be necessary to limit the number of approved applications per tranche going forward by applying ranking and selection criteria, including for the upcoming Tranche 9, which opened on June 7 and will close on September 6,' he said. Under TAMS, applications are ranked based on the age of the farmer, the size of their farm, previous grant aid payments, eligibility for ANC payments and their nitrates position. ADVERTISEMENT It is very disappointing to hear that the Government is signalling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports The minister's comments are already causing concern, particularly around the popular solar PV grant, which gives up to 60pc support for installing panels on farm buildings. Micro-Renewable Energy Federation chairman Kieran Kells criticised the Government for what he says is a backward step. 'It is very disappointing to hear that the Government is signalling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports,' Kells said. He went on to say that the current criteria – where farmers are scored on factors like BISS or ANC status – makes little sense when applied to energy-saving investments. 'What has a farmer's ANC payment got to do with whether or not he should qualify for a solar grant?' he said. 'If you've high energy bills and want to cut costs and carbon, you should be supported.'
Agriland
09-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
MREF slams limit on TAMS applications in future tranches
The announcement that limits may apply to the number of applications under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) in future tranches has been criticised by the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF). Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon said over the weekend that, as TAMS is a demand-led scheme with a defined budget, it may be necessary to limit the number of applicants per tranche through ranking and selection criteria going forward. However, the MREF said that such a move could have 'a significant damaging impact on the ability of commercial farmers to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs'. Kieran Kells, the chairperson of the MREF, said that the 60% grant support available under TAMS for on-farm solar PV panels and infrastructure is a 'massively valuable necessary support measure', and that farmers have 'increasingly bought into investing in solar PV to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions'. 'It is very disappointing to hear that the government is signaling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports. 'This is a retrograde and negative step that will undermine Ireland' ability to meet its climate action and emissions reduction targets,' Kells said. According to the MREF, the current eligibility and ranking criteria for applications should be abolished, or at a minimum reviewed and updated to ensure that they prioritise and support all farmers who need and use energy in their business. The MREF chairperson said that a recently published assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland's progress towards meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets 'is a sobering read'. 'If the minister now restricts supports for farmers investing into renewable energy, it will be seen as an incredible own goal by the government,' Kells said. He added: 'Ireland is facing billion of euros in costs and fines for failing to meet our climate change targets. 'The minister needs to ensure there is unrestricted support for farmers investing into renewables if he is serious about helping farmers decarbonise and help the country meet its challenging climate change targets,' Kells said. TAMS applications The minister also confirmed over the weekend that 100% of eligible applications received under tranches 6, 7 and 8 of TAMS have been approved. Tranche 6 closed to applications on March 7, 2025, with 4,931 applications received across the 11 schemes. Tranche 7, the emergency tranche which was opened in response to Storm Éowyn, closed for applications on March 28, with 1,945 applications submitted in respect of the agreed emergency investments, including back-up generators; sheep, bovine and equine fencing; wood and biomass chippers; and mulchers. Tranche 8 closed on Friday with approximately 5,000 applications received. Tranche 9 of the scheme is now open.
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Wicklow and Wexford farmers invited to see solar energy in action at on-farm event
Part of a series of 'Solar In Action' events showcasing rooftop solar installations by IFA and Bord Gáis Energy that have delivered savings on working farms nationwide, the Wexford leg of the roadshow will take place on the farm of Paul Kehoe in Glasscarrig, Ballygarrett, on July 14 at 8 pm. Farmers attending will hear first-hand from those who have already installed rooftop solar, learning about their experience, costs, benefits, and practical insights into how it's working on their farms. Speakers from IFA and Bord Gáis Energy will also present details on the application process, TAMS, and the technology used by IFA and Bord Gáis Energy. The event series also highlights the support available to farmers through the TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme, which offers grant aid of up to 60pc for eligible rooftop solar installations. 'Farmers are stepping up to the energy challenge and 'Solar In Action' shows the real, practical steps farms can take to cut costs and carbon,' IFA president Francie Gorman said. 'These are working farms, already producing their clean energy with IFA-Bord Gáis Energy rooftop systems – and the TAMS grant makes it even more accessible'. 'Rooftop solar power solutions are helping farmers reduce energy costs – saving up to €200,000 across the lifetime of a typical installation – while supporting the long-term sustainability of their farms,' Bord Gáis Energy's John Cussen added. 'The 'Solar In Action' roadshow gives farmers the chance to see the technology in action, hear from others already seeing the benefits, and speak with experts about how solar could work for their own farm. 'With strong demand across the agriculture sector, solar is the smart, future-focused choice for farms of all types and sizes.' The free event is open to all farmers. Register via
