Minister McConalogue announces opening of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3)

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D and Ministers of State Senator Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon T.D have announced the opening of the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3).

TAMS provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for five years with a budget of €370m. Tranche 1 of the scheme will open next Wednesday 22 February with solar panels on farms the first available investment. The other investments will become available on a phased basis during Tranche 1 which will close on 16 June.

Equine investments will be available under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme at a grant rate of 40% (60% for those qualifying as young farmers). It is planned to open this heading for applications in mid-March, at which point the full T&Cs will be available.

Commenting on the changes, Minister McConalogue said:

“TAMS continues to be a hugely beneficial scheme for farmers, and I am delighted that it will continue in 2023 in a much bigger and better way than previously. TAMS will continue to support productive farming and helping ensure that we remain a modern and futureproofed sector. We are also using TAMS to align more with our climate and sustainability goals through renewable energy, low emission spreading equipment and higher grant rates for organic farmers. It will also be a driver of our priorities on increasing the number of young farmers and women farmers and improving farm safety with higher grant rates for all of these.”

On the increased rate for the Farm Safety Scheme, Minister of State with special responsibility for farm safety Martin Heydon said: “If we are to make farms safer places, farmers must be supported to invest in physical safety infrastructure. The new higher farm safety grant rate of 60% in TAMS 3 will allow farmers to reduce the risk on their farms by availing of options like replacing old slats, installing a better handling unit or calving area, or upgrading their farmyard lighting. I would encourage all farmers to seriously look at these investments as part of our efforts to reduce the number of fatal and serious incidents on farms."

“In addition, for the first time under TAMS, equine breeders will have the opportunity to invest in important infrastructure for their farms including housing, training facilities, and fencing. This will help make the breeding and handling of horses safer for farmers and the animals. It will be a real gamechanger for small breeders who are at the heart of the sector.”

TAMS 3 will run for five years and will include 10 schemes; it is will open for receipt of applications on a phased basis by scheme. Solar will open before Wednesday 22 February. Next to follow will be Animal Welfare, Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) by mid-March and the remaining schemes will be open for applications on a phased basis by end May.

It is anticipated that the first Tranche for all schemes will close on 16 June 2023. The scheme does not operate on a first come first served basis and all applications will go through a ranking and selection process after the closing date.

In addition to the changes above, there will be a wide range of new investments included under the TAMS 3 schemes, including the following:

• Equine Housing
  • American Barns for Equines
  • Loose House for Equines
  • In-line Stables for Equines
  • Common Wall
  • Ancillary Concrete
  • Tack Room
  • Feed Store
  • Forage Store
• Equine Training Facilities
  • Gallops
  • Lunge Rings
  • Outdoor Exercise Area (All-Weather Surface)
  • Horse Walker with Roof
  • Horse Walker without Roof
• Equine Fencing
  • Post and Rail
  • Horse Tape / Rope
  • Specialised Horse Mesh
  • Gateway