I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) is a demand-led scheme with a defined budgetary allocation. Given that we are now over 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 was necessary to limit the number of approved applications in recent tranches by applying ranking and selection criteria. This will be kept under ongoing review for the remainder of the CSP
TAMS 3 has proved to be extremely popular, with payments of over €152 million issued to farmers since payments commenced in June 2024.
The Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) is one of eleven schemes under TAMS 3. Under the latest tranche (tranche 10), a similar number of applications under AWNSS have been selected for approval as under the previous tranches.
My Department is focused on maximising the number of applications that may be approved under this scheme while maintaining support for other areas that need investment. Improving nutrient efficiency is not only about providing additional storage, but requires funding of equipment to apply the nutrients more effectively, as well as funding of investments to improve grassland management.
All eligible applications submitted in the first eight tranches of TAMS 3 have received 100% approval, with over 12,000 approvals issuing under AWNSS to farmers, allowing them to proceed with their investments. This is approximately three times the average number of applications received in the same period under TAMS 2.
