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11 July 2023

Eligibility criteria for the Women Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme

Eligibility criteria for the Women Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme


The Women Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) is one of 10 schemes falling under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS III) umbrella.

To promote gender equality, employment, growth, generation renewal, social inclusion and local development in rural areas by supporting the participation of women in farming, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) launched the WFCIS.

This scheme provides an incentive to women farmers to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment by providing them with an increased level of support to meet the considerable capital costs associated with the establishment of their enterprises.

Under WFCIS, grant aid is paid at the rate of 60% up to a maximum of €90,000 per holding. Multiple applications per tranche are allowed; however the minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under this scheme is €2,000 per application.

Applicants who receive approval to proceed with investment works at the maximum ceiling of €90,000 under this scheme are not eligible to apply for grants under any other TAMS scheme, with the exception of the Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) Equipment Scheme. In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners, the maximum increases to €160,000.

Eligibility criteria

DAFM published the eligibility criteria for WFCIS in late June, this scheme is open to farmers who:

  • Are more than 18 years and under 67 years of age at the date of submitting the application form;
  • Are identified as female on DAFM’s Corporate Customer Management (CCM) system;
  • Own or have leasehold title to the site on which it is proposed to carry out the development;
  • Prior to submitting the online TAMS III application have a minimum of 5ha of eligible land, which has been declared under the Basic Payment Scheme / Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year;
  • For Tillage related investments have a minimum of 15ha of eligible crops declared under the BPS/BISS or equivalent in the year of application or previous year;
  • For equine investments only prior to submitting the online TAMS III application – have a minimum of 5ha of eligible land owned and/or leased or rented, which has been declared under the BPS and/or the BISS or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year and a minimum of three equines declared on the Equine Census or equivalent in the year preceding application.
  • In the case of intensive enterprises, generate a minimum of 20 production units from farming.

In addition to the above, the applicant must be named on the herd number for the holding and the herd must have submitted and application on BPS for the 2022 ‘reference year’ – either as an individual / registered farm partnership or company.

Where the ‘reference year’ requirements are not met, applicants must fulfil the requirement regarding occupational skill and competence through having an approved educational course completed. The details of these courses are available in the scheme’s full terms and conditions. This condition must be met on the date of application or within 36 months from the date of issue of DAFM approval to the applicant to commence works.

If this criteria is not met, the applicant will not be eligible for the 60% rate. Where this deadline for completion is not met, grant aid will be paid at the standard rate of 40%. No extensions shall be granted to this period, whether on grounds of force majeure or otherwise.

In the case of a woman farmer farming with others, a declaration is required that the woman farmer exercises effective and long-term control over the partnership or legal person in terms of decisions related to management, benefits and financial risks either solely or jointly together with other members of the partnership. A woman farmer can only qualify for one holding or entity under this scheme.

The full terms and conditions of the Women Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme are available here. For more information on the eligible items available under TAMS III, click here.