The Farm Safety Scheme is up and running and applications are now being accepted. It operates in a similar manner to the other TAMS 1 grant schemes.
A farmer applies, listing the items for which he/she is seeking grant aid. The applicant includes a proposed cost for each investment item. This should exclude VAT, but include the cost associated with use of own labour or own machinery.
If approval is given, the work can then proceed and items can be purchased. After completion of work, and no later than 31 August 2015, the farmer applies for payment using Form FSS20.
Grant rate
The grant rate is 40% of the investment cost as accepted by the Department of Agriculture.
Calculation of amount
The 40% grant aid is calculated on the lowest of the following three amounts:
i) The Department’s reference costing for each investment item.ii) The total of the invoices marked paid, net of VAT, together with the cost of the farmer’s own contribution in terms of labour and machinery, as deemed to be eligible by the Department.iii) The proposed cost of the project as indicated by the applicant on the application form.Where there are no reference costing applicable, the 40% grant aid will be calculated on the lower of (ii) and (iii) above. Where applicable, the reference costing will be increased by 33% in respect of investments carried out on off-shore islands.
The Department updates its reference costing from time to time.
The costings that are current at the time of an application will be the ones used when grant aid is being calculated.
Investment thresholds
The maximum eligible investment ceiling is €20,000 per holding, which implies a maximum grant amount of €8,000. The scheme has a minimum investment threshold of €2,000 per holding.
In the case of Teagasc milk production partnership, the maximum investment ceiling is multiplied by the number of eligible partners in the partnership, up to a maximum of three.
Dates
Here are the important dates relating to the Farm Safety Scheme – I used a wrong date in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal – apologies.
The Department will operate two tranches, with the €12m budget divided evenly between the two.The Department is now accepting applications for the first tranche.This first tranche closes for applications on Friday 28 November 2014.The second tranche then opens for applications on Monday 1 December 2014.It closes for applications on 9 January 2015.All applications not approved in the first tranche will be carried over into the second tranche.Similarly, any unused budget from the first tranche will transfer for allocation under the second tranche.All work must be completed and a payment claim lodged with the Department by 31 August 2015.The Department is giving extra ranking marks to applications lodged before the end of October 2014, ie by tomorrow. See panel on ranking.Applying for payment
After receiving approval and undertaking the work/investment, an applicant will then apply for payment using Form FSS20. All relevant receipts and invoices must be submitted with this form.
All receipts must be original, must be on headed paper and must at least include the name, address and VAT number of the supplier/contractor (if registered).
Applying for payment on own labour/machinery
Direct constructional work by the applicant, or person working on the applicant’s behalf, qualifies for a payment of €12.40 per hour.
Where some or all of the works are carried out by the applicant or a family member, the hours worked and the date(s) on which they were worked must be set out on Form FSS 20 and be broken down per approved investment item.
The Department’s reference costing include the cost of labour. So own labour cost will not be added to these reference costs.
The Department’s reference costings also cover rates for different types of machinery. For example, the payment for use of a tractor is €18.90 per hour; for a dump trailer €4.50 per hour; for a wheeled digger €19.20 per hour; for a mini-digger €10.80 per hour; and for a large excavator €23.80 per hour.
Where own machinery is used, the hours worked and the date(s) on which they were worked must also be shown on Form FSS20, together with the hourly rate charged.
Ranking of applications for grant aid
The Department has urged all applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. It has introduced a ranking system which rewards farmers who submit applications before the end of this month.
It will also rate applicants on age, disadvantaged areas, investment cost, TAMS 1 participation and accuracy of application. This marking system will apply if the scheme is oversubscribed.
As we can see below, the highest weighting is given to cost of proposal and previous participation in TAMS 1.
Significant priority is given to an applicant whose proposed cost for an investment is below the Department’s reference costings or below the scheme’s investment ceiling of €20,000. This will help spread the total €12.2m funding among more farmers.
Similarly, farmers applying to TAMS 1 now for the first time get priority and this is designed to maximise the number of farmers benefiting from the scheme.
Age: Applicants aged 40 will receive five ranking marks. One additional mark will be given for each year under 40 that an applicant is. For each year over 40, an applicant will lose 0.1 marks. A young farmer must hold a Department identifier at the time of application in order to be granted this priority;TAMS 1: Priority shall be given to applicants with no prior TAMS 1 approval. 50 marks will be awarded to an applicant not given approval under TAMS 1.Cost of proposal: Applicants will be given preference where the proposed costs are lower than the Department’s reference costings or the scheme’s investment ceiling. Five marks given for every 1% that total proposed cost is below the lower of total reference cost or scheme ceiling. A maximum 100 marks given where the proposed cost is 20% below reference cost or scheme ceiling. Zero marks if proposed cost at or above reference cost or scheme ceiling.Correct application: 15 marks given if the applicant submits a complete, accurate application form, which does not require further queries from the Department.Date of application: 15 marks if an application form is received on or before 31 October 2014. Loss of 0.2 marks per calendar day for every day the application is received after 31 October 2014.LFA: 10 marks where the holding is in a Less Favoured Area.Eligible items
The items listed below are eligible for grant aid. Where an application is for fixed equipment, then it must include a farm building layout plan and relevant drawings.
The Department has placed detailed new specifications for a number of these items on its website – for example, S101C safety cages under roof clear-sheets and S123D accepted simple aeration systems for grant aid.
Fixed Equipment
(Department’s reference costing is shown in brackets)
Safety rails on silo walls (€22.30 per linear metre).Safety fencing for external slurry and effluent stores, including gate (€54.70/m).Solid cover for external slurry and effluent stores (€57.10/m2).Safety covers on external agitation points or manholes (€407 each).Replacement of damaged slats (single/twin/gang) or replacement of existing internal agitation point with new gang slats (€56.80/m2). It is strongly recommended that the tank be fully emptied prior to the commencement of any work on the replacement of slats. It is strongly recommended that no one enters the tank during slat replacement activity.Replacement of a hinged door/sheeted gate with a new sliding door/roller door on agricultural buildings (€84.80/m2).Removal of end wall of tank and provision of external agitation point (€4,125 each).Wiring/rewiring of existing farm buildings. The minimum required is a new distribution board, all new lights, all new wire, minimum one new socket per 80m2 or per house, and overall ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form (€6.70/m2).Yard lights (minimum 200W equivalent, either metal halide or LED). Minimum required is new lights, all new wire, subsystem ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form (€237.50 each).Retrofitting roof clear-sheet (roof light) with safety cages (€47.50 each) – see Dept specification S101C.Circulation pipe (6”) to allow for agitation of slurry (€13.30/m).Installation of calving gates (€148.90/m).Simple aeration systems (€58.05/m2 of tank)Mobile cattle handling equipment:
Cattle crush unit. The unit must be a minimum of 2.4m long and fitted with a sculling gate (manual or automatic) and a back gate. The crush must be securely fixed when in use to prevent animals turning over the unit (€1,568).Mobile cattle penning. Maximum eligible is 75m (in combination with cattle crush unit) (€43.50/m).Mobile cattle weighing scales (€1,164).Leg hoist/ lifter (€378.70).Head scoop (€251.70).Mobile sheep handling equipment:
Mobile specialised sheep spraying equipment (€3,705 without trailer or €9,500 if on trailer).Portable sheep handling race with wheels (including footbath) (€3,186.54).Portable basic sheep handling race (€881.96).Mobile sheep weighing facilities (€845.92).Mobile sheep rollover crate (€847.92).Mobile sheep batch footbath (€654.02).Mobile sheep penning (maximum of 75 linear metres and in combination with a sheep handling race) (€27.93/m).Mobile sheep adoption unit front (€111.05).Mobile sheep adoption unit front – with penning (€224.08).
The Farm Safety Scheme is up and running and applications are now being accepted. It operates in a similar manner to the other TAMS 1 grant schemes.
A farmer applies, listing the items for which he/she is seeking grant aid. The applicant includes a proposed cost for each investment item. This should exclude VAT, but include the cost associated with use of own labour or own machinery.
If approval is given, the work can then proceed and items can be purchased. After completion of work, and no later than 31 August 2015, the farmer applies for payment using Form FSS20.
Grant rate
The grant rate is 40% of the investment cost as accepted by the Department of Agriculture.
Calculation of amount
The 40% grant aid is calculated on the lowest of the following three amounts:
i) The Department’s reference costing for each investment item.ii) The total of the invoices marked paid, net of VAT, together with the cost of the farmer’s own contribution in terms of labour and machinery, as deemed to be eligible by the Department.iii) The proposed cost of the project as indicated by the applicant on the application form.Where there are no reference costing applicable, the 40% grant aid will be calculated on the lower of (ii) and (iii) above. Where applicable, the reference costing will be increased by 33% in respect of investments carried out on off-shore islands.
The Department updates its reference costing from time to time.
The costings that are current at the time of an application will be the ones used when grant aid is being calculated.
Investment thresholds
The maximum eligible investment ceiling is €20,000 per holding, which implies a maximum grant amount of €8,000. The scheme has a minimum investment threshold of €2,000 per holding.
In the case of Teagasc milk production partnership, the maximum investment ceiling is multiplied by the number of eligible partners in the partnership, up to a maximum of three.
Dates
Here are the important dates relating to the Farm Safety Scheme – I used a wrong date in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal – apologies.
The Department will operate two tranches, with the €12m budget divided evenly between the two.The Department is now accepting applications for the first tranche.This first tranche closes for applications on Friday 28 November 2014.The second tranche then opens for applications on Monday 1 December 2014.It closes for applications on 9 January 2015.All applications not approved in the first tranche will be carried over into the second tranche.Similarly, any unused budget from the first tranche will transfer for allocation under the second tranche.All work must be completed and a payment claim lodged with the Department by 31 August 2015.The Department is giving extra ranking marks to applications lodged before the end of October 2014, ie by tomorrow. See panel on ranking.Applying for payment
After receiving approval and undertaking the work/investment, an applicant will then apply for payment using Form FSS20. All relevant receipts and invoices must be submitted with this form.
All receipts must be original, must be on headed paper and must at least include the name, address and VAT number of the supplier/contractor (if registered).
Applying for payment on own labour/machinery
Direct constructional work by the applicant, or person working on the applicant’s behalf, qualifies for a payment of €12.40 per hour.
Where some or all of the works are carried out by the applicant or a family member, the hours worked and the date(s) on which they were worked must be set out on Form FSS 20 and be broken down per approved investment item.
The Department’s reference costing include the cost of labour. So own labour cost will not be added to these reference costs.
The Department’s reference costings also cover rates for different types of machinery. For example, the payment for use of a tractor is €18.90 per hour; for a dump trailer €4.50 per hour; for a wheeled digger €19.20 per hour; for a mini-digger €10.80 per hour; and for a large excavator €23.80 per hour.
Where own machinery is used, the hours worked and the date(s) on which they were worked must also be shown on Form FSS20, together with the hourly rate charged.
Ranking of applications for grant aid
The Department has urged all applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. It has introduced a ranking system which rewards farmers who submit applications before the end of this month.
It will also rate applicants on age, disadvantaged areas, investment cost, TAMS 1 participation and accuracy of application. This marking system will apply if the scheme is oversubscribed.
As we can see below, the highest weighting is given to cost of proposal and previous participation in TAMS 1.
Significant priority is given to an applicant whose proposed cost for an investment is below the Department’s reference costings or below the scheme’s investment ceiling of €20,000. This will help spread the total €12.2m funding among more farmers.
Similarly, farmers applying to TAMS 1 now for the first time get priority and this is designed to maximise the number of farmers benefiting from the scheme.
Age: Applicants aged 40 will receive five ranking marks. One additional mark will be given for each year under 40 that an applicant is. For each year over 40, an applicant will lose 0.1 marks. A young farmer must hold a Department identifier at the time of application in order to be granted this priority;TAMS 1: Priority shall be given to applicants with no prior TAMS 1 approval. 50 marks will be awarded to an applicant not given approval under TAMS 1.Cost of proposal: Applicants will be given preference where the proposed costs are lower than the Department’s reference costings or the scheme’s investment ceiling. Five marks given for every 1% that total proposed cost is below the lower of total reference cost or scheme ceiling. A maximum 100 marks given where the proposed cost is 20% below reference cost or scheme ceiling. Zero marks if proposed cost at or above reference cost or scheme ceiling.Correct application: 15 marks given if the applicant submits a complete, accurate application form, which does not require further queries from the Department.Date of application: 15 marks if an application form is received on or before 31 October 2014. Loss of 0.2 marks per calendar day for every day the application is received after 31 October 2014.LFA: 10 marks where the holding is in a Less Favoured Area.Eligible items
The items listed below are eligible for grant aid. Where an application is for fixed equipment, then it must include a farm building layout plan and relevant drawings.
The Department has placed detailed new specifications for a number of these items on its website – for example, S101C safety cages under roof clear-sheets and S123D accepted simple aeration systems for grant aid.
Fixed Equipment
(Department’s reference costing is shown in brackets)
Safety rails on silo walls (€22.30 per linear metre).Safety fencing for external slurry and effluent stores, including gate (€54.70/m).Solid cover for external slurry and effluent stores (€57.10/m2).Safety covers on external agitation points or manholes (€407 each).Replacement of damaged slats (single/twin/gang) or replacement of existing internal agitation point with new gang slats (€56.80/m2). It is strongly recommended that the tank be fully emptied prior to the commencement of any work on the replacement of slats. It is strongly recommended that no one enters the tank during slat replacement activity.Replacement of a hinged door/sheeted gate with a new sliding door/roller door on agricultural buildings (€84.80/m2).Removal of end wall of tank and provision of external agitation point (€4,125 each).Wiring/rewiring of existing farm buildings. The minimum required is a new distribution board, all new lights, all new wire, minimum one new socket per 80m2 or per house, and overall ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form (€6.70/m2).Yard lights (minimum 200W equivalent, either metal halide or LED). Minimum required is new lights, all new wire, subsystem ETCI certificate and Supplementary Agricultural Certification Form (€237.50 each).Retrofitting roof clear-sheet (roof light) with safety cages (€47.50 each) – see Dept specification S101C.Circulation pipe (6”) to allow for agitation of slurry (€13.30/m).Installation of calving gates (€148.90/m).Simple aeration systems (€58.05/m2 of tank)Mobile cattle handling equipment:
Cattle crush unit. The unit must be a minimum of 2.4m long and fitted with a sculling gate (manual or automatic) and a back gate. The crush must be securely fixed when in use to prevent animals turning over the unit (€1,568).Mobile cattle penning. Maximum eligible is 75m (in combination with cattle crush unit) (€43.50/m).Mobile cattle weighing scales (€1,164).Leg hoist/ lifter (€378.70).Head scoop (€251.70).Mobile sheep handling equipment:
Mobile specialised sheep spraying equipment (€3,705 without trailer or €9,500 if on trailer).Portable sheep handling race with wheels (including footbath) (€3,186.54).Portable basic sheep handling race (€881.96).Mobile sheep weighing facilities (€845.92).Mobile sheep rollover crate (€847.92).Mobile sheep batch footbath (€654.02).Mobile sheep penning (maximum of 75 linear metres and in combination with a sheep handling race) (€27.93/m).Mobile sheep adoption unit front (€111.05).Mobile sheep adoption unit front – with penning (€224.08). 
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: