merrion street

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today announced that a revised TAMS Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Scheme would be introduced with effect from 19 March, 2013 in order to provide further grant assistance to sheep farmers who were planning to carry out investment work on their farms.

The Minister stated that he was aware that the current TAMS Scheme had enabled a significant number of farmers to complete necessary investment works on their farms. However, in order to encourage a greater number of farmers to enter the Scheme, the Minister announced that he is increasing the current investment ceiling of €10,000 per holding to €25,000 with effect from 19 March 2013. The current tranche will therefore exceptionally close on 15 March 2013 and a new tranche will be opened under the revised Scheme with effect from 19 March 2013. The grant-rate will remain unchanged at 40 per cent. Approvals issued and grants paid under previous versions of the TAMS Sheep Fencing/Handling Scheme will be taken into account for the purposes of the new investment ceiling.

The Minister stated: - "I am also pleased to confirm that I am enlarging the number of items eligible for grant-aid under the Scheme to include mobile meal feeders, hay racks, adoption units and tag readers. These new investment items will further assist farmers to reduce the labour input required on their farms.”

The Minister confirmed that the first tranche under the revised Scheme will close on Friday, 28 June 2013. The revised terms and conditions, and accompanying application form, will be available on his Department’s website with effect from Tuesday, 19 March 2013.