Over 2,200 applications made by farmers under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) have been refused following a ranking and selection process.

TAMS provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.

Over 63,000 applications have been received across the first eleven tranches of TAMS 3.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said this is around three times the average number of applications received over the same period under the previous scheme (TAMS 2).

TAMS

In a parliamentary question, Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill asked what number of TAMS 3 applications have been granted and refused in recent years.

Minister Heydon replied that TAMS 3 has "proved to be extremely attractive, with payments of over €152 million issued to farmers since payments commenced in June 2024".

All eligible applications submitted in the first eight tranches of the scheme received 100% approval.

"Due to the unprecedented success of each of the individual schemes within TAMS 3, it was necessary to apply ranking and selection to tranches 9 and 10 to ensure adequate funding for the remainder of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan," the minister added.

The data shows that of the total 63,754 applications received since the scheme began in 2023, 45,121 (71%) have been approved.

Minister Heydon confirmed that 2,215 applications were refused this year by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) following ranking and selection.

The minister noted that the data does not include applications, withdrawn or rejected prior to ranking and selection and those currently being assessed.

Scheme

Deputy Michael Cahill also asked Minister Heydon to simplify TAMS 3 "as a matter of priority".

The Kerry TD claimed that "a significant number of applications are being turned down due to the scheme being too onerous and complicated".

Minister Heydon said the terms and conditions of the scheme are designed to ensure that all farmers who "hold a department identifier and declare a minimum of 5ha on their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application are eligible to choose from a list of over 400 investment items available across the eleven TAMS sub-schemes".

"A total of only 6% of applications have been rejected due to ineligibility under the terms and conditions of the scheme, which also includes cases where the applicants voluntarily decide to withdraw their applications.

"I will also ensure that the scheme continues to be reviewed taking into consideration the available budget and the number of applications received," the minister said.