Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has said the current scoring system applied to Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) continues to be "reviewed on a regular basis".

TAMS 3 provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.

The scheme operates in tranches, and more than 63,000 applications have been received across its first eleven tranches.

This compares to 20,805 applications received over the same number of tranches in the 2014-2022 TAMS 2 scheme.

Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) is one of the key schemes under TAMS 3.

Selection threshold

Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Albert Dolan asked the minister recently the reason for the reduction in the selection threshold under the AWNSS from 80% to 60% under TAMS 3 tranche 10.

Minister Heydon said it was "necessary to apply a 60% selection to tranche 10 applications under the AWNSS due to the unprecedented success of the individual schemes within TAMS 3, while working within overall budgetary constraints".

"A total of 2,076 applications were received under the AWNSS in tranche 10," the minister said.

"Those selected will now undergo further technical checks before approvals issue to all eligible applicants, allowing farmers to proceed with their investments."

Deputy Dolan asked the minister if he would outline any plans to increase the TAMS 3 budget allocation to support farmers in meeting nutrient storage requirements under the Nitrates Action Programme.

Minister Heydon said he is "satisfied that the current scoring system is the best mechanism for ensuring that funding is targeted at the most appropriate enterprises".

"I will also ensure that the system continues to be reviewed on a regular basis," he said.