Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3)

The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provide grants to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment.

Note:

A valid BISS application is the first step. It is advisable to work with an agricultural agent, though applications can be undertaken without one. A list of approved FAS advisors is available here

Applicants

Must be registered with DAFM (have an equine premise number)
Must have a minimum of five eligible hectares of land, owned or leased, or rented land (take care to renew any lease that will expire within 5 years of application)
- The lease must have 5 years to run from the date of final TAMS 3 payment and must be verified or stamped duty paid by the Revenue Commissioners, except in the case of a lease to a spouse. Where it is considered that a lease will expire within five years of the date of final payment, such payment shall not issue until written evidence of an extension of the lease concerned is lodged with the Department; Any changes to a lease shall be by a witnessed and signed Deed of Variation
Must have submitted a BISS application in the year of application or preceding year i.e. BEFORE applying for a TAMS 3 grant. All investment locations, including Farmyards, must be digitised and present on BISS application maps to enable use of AgriSnap.
Must have minimum three equines (of any type) submitted on the most recent Equine Census, where applying for equine infrastructure. Failure to submit a completed Equine Census by the closing date of the TAMS tranche applied within will render an application for equine-related investment to be invalid.
Must have secured full and final planning permission or declaration of exemption from planning BEFORE applying for a TAMS 3 grant.

Note – it will be necessary for successful applicants to keep at least one equine for five years after receiving grant aid.

TAMS schemes issue in tranches, with batches of approvals allocated on a points basis against set criteria rather than on a first come, first served basis. Tranches open for three months at a time after which applications within the tranche are reviewed and scored by DAFM, then successful applicants informed while the next tranche opens. This continues until the fund expires or for the next five years from first opening in 2023.

No building or acquisition of materials can commence before approval. Grant payment is not issued until all works are complete; receipts etc. submitted; and final inspections completed. Bridging finance is usually required to cover costs until grant funding is paid.

Specifications for building in relation to the equine infrastructures are available here. S156 is the main document of relevance to equine infrastructure. Other specifications like S100, S101, S102, S108, S109A, S129 S123, S123Y, S147, S148, S148A, S199, S195 may need to be followed also depending on the investment item. As S157 is yet to be updated, do contact DAFM before proceeding with any proprietary manufactured items like handling stocks, mechanical walkers, stable partitioning to ensure that they meet DAFM approval first.

Minimum investment

Minimum investment eligible for approval per application under all TAMS schemes is €2,000 per application (except LESS where it is €5,000)

Planning permission

Full and final planning permission is required and /or exemption from planning at the time of application accompanied by stamped drawings from the relevant local authority. A decision to grant application is not sufficient, full grant of planning with stamped conditions and drawings must be submitted with the application. Guidelines re exempted rural developments are available here, but the exemptions will have to be applied for and provide declaration of exemption from county council at time of application – these are private applications to local authority without need to put up signage at the property and should have a quicker turn around time than full planning applications.

Where applicable, a copy of the appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken as a requirement of the planning process must be submitted along with the grant of planning permission.

There are restrictions on exemptions (Article 9 of Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 as amended). Read more about planning permission.

Where amendments have been made to Approved building plans under TAMS, including required Planning Permission amendments, then revised drawings/Planning Permission must be submitted with the Claim.

Fencing in general does not require planning permission. However, if the proposed fencing (whether new or replacement) is in a Special Area of Conservation, a National Heritage Area, a Special Protection Area or a Natura 2000 habitat, any upland or seaside area that has not been previously fenced or enclosed, then planning permission or a declaration of exemption from the relevant local authority is also required at time of application.

Nitrates

Applicants seeking funding for farm waste nutrient storage facilities must certify the farm is in compliance with storage requirements as outlined in Nitrates Regulations. Applicants seeking funding for farm waste nutrient storage facilities must certify the farm complies with storage requirements per ‘Nitrates Regulations.’ Applicants found non-compliant will not be eligible for grant aid relating to Farm Nutrient Storage and will be cross-reported to the Cross Compliance Section of the Department, which may result in penalties or sanctions. Talk to your agricultural advisor.

Application process

Applications must be submitted online through agfood.ie. Applicants who wish to apply online or through their agents must first be registered for online services (OLS) with the Department. Instructions for registration can be found online at www.agfood.ie or you can contact agfood online services helpline in the Department’s Portlaoise office 049 436 8288 or email agfood@agriculture.gov.ie

Applicants can submit more than one application per tranche, subject to the minimum investment ceiling. Where the Department identifier is registered in multiple names, applications submitted quoting the identifier are deemed to be submitted with the consent of all registered owners for example:

where the Department identifier is registered in more than one name i.e. Joint Herd number
in the case of Partnerships, by all Partners
in the case of companies, by the Company Directors.

Important

A full list of investment(s) and sub investment(s) is required to be listed through the online application including their proposed cost.

At the time of claiming:

Must claim item(s) purchased and correct size / dimensions.
Just claim for works completed and mark any other structure(s) submitted originally which are incomplete.
Can complete a structure larger or smaller than the original drawings submitted and approved, however, must then revise drawings and planning where changes are made.
Only claim the item sizes or dimensions completed.

Completion of works

12 months are granted for completion of works from the date of approval letter. Extensions can be sought but photographic evidence will be required of commencement of works pre 12 months expire and explanation of mitigating factors preventing completion.

Also be aware of the health and safety guide for construction works.

Payment claims

Payment claims need to be supported by the following:

ALL receipts in the name of individual/ entity showing net amount without VAT (where VAT applicable) and marked paid.
Evidence of land ownership / lease in applicants /entity’s name(s).
Agrisnap photos for every eligible TAMS sub-investment item.
Certificate in farm safety training course (1/2 day); certificate in farming meets this requirement where completed within five years of application.
Any required quality certificates i.e. electrical/ concrete.
Tax clearance certificate of applicant and contractors.

Grant costings

The amount to be paid in grant aid is dependant on:

Whether an applicant is eligible for 40% grant rate or 60% grant rate (eligible young farmers and eligible women in agriculture or all items under the farm safety capital investment scheme) and
DAFM reference costing for the infrastructure item at date of approval. Further information on reference costs can be found here
Or total cost of invoice marked ‘paid’ net of VAT together with costs of own labour/machinery.
Or cost of investment proposed by applicant on their online application form.

Whichever is the lower of 2 or 3 or 4 is used as the base for calculating the grant.

Note: Reference costs are subject to revision periodically. If there is an amendment or change to reference costs, the change only applies to applications submitted after the date of introduction of the change to the reference cost.

Where applicable, Reference Costings will be increased by 33% in respect of investments carried out on off shore islands.