The Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Martin Heydon has today (Tuesday, January 28) announced that the latest tranche of the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) is now open for applications.

This latest tranche of the scheme includes a new 60% grant aid for nutrient storage investments.

The minister has also announced the closing date of all upcoming tranches in 2025.

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

The scheme is is jointly funded by the national exchequer and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union under Ireland’s RDP 2014-2022 and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Minister Heydon said he was pleased to confirm 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.

The main investments available at the 60% grant rate include: manure pits; mass concrete tanks, including precast tanks; circular slurry stores and geo-membrane lined stores.

"I believe this enhanced grant rate will encourage farmers to invest in nutrient storage on their holdings to create additional storage capacity, especially in a time of uncertain weather patterns.

"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.

"The specific nutrient storage investments items outlined below will attract a 60% grant aid, and will have a separate ring-fenced ceiling of €90,000," Heydon said.

Minister Heydon also set out all the tranche closing dates for this year, to allow farmers and their advisors to plan proposed investments "in a timely manner".

The minister said that the 2025 tranche closing dates were as follows:

Tranche 6: March 7, 2025;
Tranche 7: 6 June 6, 2025;
Tranche 8: September 5, 2025;
Tranche 9: December 5, 2025.

Minister Heydon said that ‘‘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," he added.

Under the On-farm Capital Investment Scheme, known as TAMS 3, there are 11 individual schemes:

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 schemes