merrion street

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today announced that the deadline for submission of applications under the revised TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme introduced by his Department last July would be extended for a final time from 2 April 2013 to Friday, 3 May 2013.

The Minister stated a new final tranche under the Scheme will therefore close on 3 May 2013. This final extension is being granted, in order to ensure that those pig producers were still encountering problems in obtaining planning permission might be able to obtain grant-aid under the Scheme. Minister Coveney confirmed that no further extensions for lodgement of valid applications under the Scheme would be granted after 3 May 2013. The final date for completion of work and lodgement of a payment claim will remain end-September 2013.

The Minister reiterated that this final extension for receipt of applications under the Scheme is not an extension of the deadline for compliance with sow welfare legislation and reminded farmers that it is an offence to keep pigs in non-compliant housing after 1 January 2013.