Press release
Minister announces approval of latest TAMS applications and inclusion of Meal Bins in TAMS for all Sectors
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD. has today announced the commencement of approvals of over 2,090 applications under the most recent Tranche of TAMs scheme. These applications were received under Tranche 12 which closed on 7 December 2018 and represent the fourth highest number of applications to date by tranche to date. The estimated value of all applications received in Tranche 12 is €30.5 million.
The Minister commented:
“I am delighted with the continued interest in the suite of seven measures available under the TAMS scheme. There are now over 22,900 applications received under the scheme to date including over 2,000 applications in the latest tranche. Over €103 million has been paid out to farmers so far under the Scheme with weekly payments currently averaging over €1.2 million."
The Minister has also announced the extension of meal bins as an eligible investment for all sectors in the list of items available under TAMS II with immediate effect. The current tranche of TAMS II opened on 8 December and will close on 5 April 2019. Meal bins can be applied for now using the online application system. The TAMS II system of penalties for late submission of payment claims has also been revised with increased flexibility and graduated penalties introduced for late submission.
Commenting on these changes, the Minister commented:
“In response to requests to make meal bins available to all sectors, particularly after the fodder challenges faced by farmers in 2018, I have decided to extend their provision to all sectors with immediate effect. This will be of particular interest to the beef and sheep sectors. We have also favourably reviewed the penalty situation for late submission of payment claims and my department will be in direct contact with farmers impacted by these changes in the coming weeks."
ENDS
Farmers are reminded that if they have an existing approval under TAMS to check the relevant dates on their approval letters and to ensure that payment claims are submitted within the relevant deadline. Claims can be submitted to the online system as soon as the approved work is completed to allow for the prompt payment of claims.
Full details of the TAMS II measures are available on the department's website at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/tams.
TAMS Division can be contacted by phone on 0761 064452.
The TAMS II Scheme continues to generate significant interest amongst farmers with over 17,800 approvals now issued to participants.
Payment claims for completed approved works have been submitted and paid to over 7,000 participants. In value terms this has resulted in payments of over €103 million issuing to date, over €5.6 million of this issuing last December alone. Approvals will continue to issue and payment claims submitted paid on an ongoing basis during 2019.
Over 8,900 farmers have a TAMS II approval for which they have not yet submitted a payment claim. Approvals since Tranche 6 are being issued for 6 months for mobile equipment and 12 months for fixed investments. The department is strongly encouraging all farmers with outstanding approvals to examine their approval letter and to be mindful of when their approval will expire.
The penalty regime for the late submission of payment claims has been revised. The department will be in direct contact with those impacted by this change in the coming weeks.
In response to requests Meal Bins for all sectors are now included in the current Tranche closing on 5 April 2019.
Dates for future Tranches:
Expenditure under each of the seven measures under the Scheme up to 31 December 2018 is as follows:
| Measure | Expenditure | Number of Beneficiaries (Number of Payments in Brackets) |
| YFCIS | €47.1m | 1332 (1711) |
| DES | €23.8m | 1660 (1883) |
| AWSNS | €15.5m | 1588 (1778) |
| LESS | €6.8m | 565 (591) |
| TCIS | €6.8m | 458 (608) |
| OCIS | €1.4m | 245 (329) |
| PPIS | €0.5m | 43 (48) |
Top Ten Most Popular Investment items (by number of applications) across all TAMS II Measures are as follows:
Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWSNS):
Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES):
Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme (LESS):
Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS):
Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS):
Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS):
Young Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS):