New enhanced grant aid for nutrient storage included in TAMS 3
A new addition to tranche 6 of TAMS 3 means farmers can now apply for enhanced grant aid for nutrient storage investments.
Announcing the opening of tranche 6 today, January 28, the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, shared details of the eligible investments and a schedule of tranche closing dates for TAMS 3 over 2025.
Making the announcement, Minister Heydon said: “I am delighted to announce that the latest tranche of TAMS 3 is now open for applications, including applications in respect of nutrient storage investments, which will attract a higher grant rate of 60%.”
Designed to encourage farmers to invest in nutrient storage on their holdings to create additional storage capacity, some of the main nutrient storage investments include: a manure pit (60%); a mass concrete tank (60%), including precast tanks; circular slurry stores (60%); or a geo membrane lined store (60%). Investments made under this element of TAMS 3 will have a separate ring-fenced ceiling of €90,000.
Applicants have also been advised that there will be no obvious change to the application process, so farmers and/or their advisors should continue to submit applications in the normal manner.
Continuing, Minister Heydon said: “I am also setting out all the tranche closing dates for this year, as I want to ensure that farmers and their advisors can plan proposed investments in a timely manner. Tranche 6 of TAMS 3 will close for applications on 7 March 2025, with upcoming 2025 tranches closing on 6 June 2025, 5 September 2025 and 5 December 2025.”
In his concluding comments, Minister Heydon said: “TAMS has been, and continues to be, a hugely successful and beneficial scheme to the farming community and the wider rural economy. It has delivered key modernisation, environmental and safety improvements on thousands of farms across the country. I believe these additional enhancements will attract further interest in the scheme and deliver additional benefits, especially in terms of overall water quality.”
The Department also reminded farmers of the 11 schemes available under TAMS 3, including:
- Animal Welfare, Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) at 40% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme (NISS) at 70% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) at 40% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Pig and Poultry Capital Investment Scheme (PPIS) at 40% grant rate, with a €500,000 investment ceiling
- Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES) at 40% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) at 60% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) at 60% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Organic Farming Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS) at 60% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme (FCIS) at 60% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling
- Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS) at 60% grant rate, with a €90,000 investment ceiling that is separate from other schemes
- Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme (LESS) at 60% grant rate, with a €40,000 investment ceiling that is separate from other scheme
The full range of investments and reference costs for these schemes are available to view here.
Also read: Preliminary findings point to more slurry and soiled water storage needs