The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued nearly €4.5 million in farm scheme payments last week.

The latest data, published by the department, shows that over €3.7 million was issued to farmers under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3).

The scheme provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding.

The department said that €83.5 million has now been paid under TAMS 3 across some 9,490 claims.

32,879 TAMS 3 approvals have been granted so far, with 11,731 payment applications submitted.

DAFM paid out a further €690,000 under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) last week.

This brings the total payments issued for the agri-environmental scheme to €514.9 million.

An additional €52,828 was issued last week to farmers under the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complimentary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS).

A total of €847.57 million has now been paid under these schemes to 119,654 farmers, including €38.7 million for the 2024 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers and the 2024 National Reserve of €3.2 million.

DAFM paid an additional €21,837 to farmers for the 2024 Eco Scheme, bringing the overall amount issued to €308.36 million to 118,755 farmers.

€28,384 was also paid last week for the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and Areas of Specific Constraint (ASC).

While a further €7,500 was issued to farmers who participated in last year's Baling Assistance Payment (BAP).