According to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed's response to a recent parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue, some 1,100 part approvals have issued to date under TAMS II.

A total of 5,205 applications have been made in both tranches of the scheme.

Although he did not give the 1,100 figure at the time, Creed had previously stated that part approvals had been issued to farmers who are in urgent need of milking facilities and to those who urgently need low-emission slurry spreading equipment.

Creed added that the full approval process has commenced. However, as we reported in the Irish Farmers Journal this week, the same line has been spun out from the Department again and again – “approvals will issue in the next few weeks”.

Farmers have now been waiting months to find out if their application for a grant to carry out building work on their farm has been approved by the Department.

IT issues

The Department admitted last month that IT issues were the main reason for the long delays.

Minister Creed also revealed that “work is ongoing on the completion of a computer system to process subsequent TAMS II payment claims”.

TAMS II: Too many broken promises

1,100 part approvals issued under TAMS II to date

Some 1,100 part approvals have been issued to date under TAMS II, according to the Department of Agriculture. But full approvals have yet to be given.