Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
908. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if livestock trailers, including cattle trailers, are currently excluded from eligibility under the targeted agriculture modernisation schemes; the rationale for their exclusion given their central role in farm safety and animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39611/26]
View answer909. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the approach taken in Northern Ireland, where agricultural capital grant schemes include livestock trailers as eligible items to support safer transport of animals; if he will assess whether similar supports should be introduced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39612/26]
View answer910. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he acknowledges that livestock trailers are subject to significant wear and tear and that outdated trailers pose risks to animal welfare, farm safety, and road safety; if he will consider expanding TAMS to incentivise the upgrading of such equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39613/26]
View answer911. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 provides scope to include livestock trailers as eligible capital investments under TAMS; if his Department will review this possibility in light of farmer concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39614/26]
View answer912. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will undertake a review of the TAMS eligible item lists to ensure they reflect modern farm safety needs, including the potential inclusion of livestock trailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39615/26]
View answer913. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has assessed the competitive disadvantage faced by farmers in the Republic of Ireland compared with those in Northern Ireland, where grant aid is available for livestock trailers; if he will consider measures to address this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39616/26]
View answer914. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the approach taken in other EU Member States, where livestock trailers and similar mobile livestock handling equipment are funded under CAP Pillar II investment schemes; if he will assess whether Ireland's TAMS framework could be aligned with these European precedents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39628/26]
View answer915. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify whether livestock trailers fall within the scope of investments permitted under Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 governing CAP Strategic Plans, given that other member states fund such equipment through CAP rural development measures; if he will consider their inclusion in future TAMS tranches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39629/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 908 to 915, inclusive, together.
The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
Regulation (EU) 2021/2115) which establishes rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy stipulates that support measures must be linked to Climate, Environment and Animal Welfare and to ensure the economic sustainability of the agriculture sector. However each member state is given the flexibility to decide on what measures and investments best support these objectives.
TAMS 3 is a demand led scheme within a defined allocated budget. As a result, it is not possible at this time to consider adding further items to the comprehensive list of investment items already provided under TAMS.
