The latest tranche of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) to close has seen 5,364 applications, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed.

TAMS tranche 8 closed for applications on June 6, with tranche 9 of the scheme now open.

Of all the applications received in tranche 8, the highest number were for the Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme - one of the 11 sub-schemes that make up TAMS - which saw 1,692 applications.

The Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme also saw a significant number of applications, with 1,287.

The Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme (NISS) had no applications under this tranche.

The breakdown of applications for the 10 schemes that had applications is as follows:

Earlier this month, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon confirmed that all eligible applications under tranche 8, as well as traches 6 and 7, will be approved.

Tranche 6 closed to applications on March 7, 2025, with 4,931 applications received across the various schemes.

Tranche 7, the emergency tranche which was opened in response to Storm Éowyn, closed for applications on March 28, with 1,945 applications submitted in respect of the agreed emergency investments.

However, given the number of applications being made to TAMS, Minister Heydon said that limits may have to be placed on the number of applications going forward.

The minister said: "TAMS is a demand-led scheme with a defined budgetary allocation. Given that we are now just halfway through the current CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Strategic Plan, it is prudent that we are mindful of the budget available for the remaining TAMS tranches.

“In order to ensure that the available budget is distributed fairly over the remainder of the CSP, it may be necessary to limit the number of approved applications per tranche going forward by applying ranking and selection criteria, including for the upcoming Tranche 9, which opened on June 7 and will close on September 6,” Minister Heydon added.