Calls for quicker TAMS approvals

FARMING organisations have urged the Department of Agriculture to issue TAMS approvals to all applicants for Tranche 18, which closed in August.

According to the IFA, 3,000 farmers applied to Tranche 18. The national organisation said that 1,500 applications rejected from Tranche 17 must also be addressed by the Department and warned that delays in the approval process are impacting on farmers’ investment plans.

IFA Rural Development Committee chairman Michael Biggins said the IFA has also asked the Government to consider increasing the funding for TAMS in the next budget.

‘In IFA’s 2021 pre-Budget proposals, we are looking for an allocation of €120m for TAMS for next year. This is an increase from the 2020 allocation of €82.5m. This will be necessary to clear the backlog of approvals and new applicants between now and year end and in the transition period,’ he said.

Meanwhile the ICMSA has called on the Department to announce the closing dates for the remaining 2020 tranches to allow farmers time to prepare their applications.

Denis Drennan, chair of the ICMSA’s

Farm and Rural Affairs committee, said clarity on the extension of the scheme into 2021 would also benefit farmers.

‘ There is no clarity on this matter and if, for instance, interested farmers knew that a scheme will be in place for January 1, 2021, it would be hugely helpful for some farmers and give them the necessary time to plan the correct investment for their particular farm rather than rushing in an application before the end of this year.’

Tranche 19 of the TAMS scheme is due to close in mid- October, with a further TAMS tranche expected before the end of the year.