I have been contacted by farmers across north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny, who are currently finding it difficult to access funding under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, for the installation of solar panels on their farm buildings. A recent parliamentary question reply stated that the solar capital investment scheme has been hugely popular with farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy, thereby reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. That same reply from the Minister, Deputy Heydon, stated that between 2023 and 2025 over €4.5 million was paid to farmers to get solar panels on their farms, which is really good news. However, in the current climate of rising costs for diesel and electricity, falling prices for farmers and the need to reduce carbon emissions, the installation of solar panels on farm buildings really is low-hanging fruit. Therefore, my two questions to Government are: first, will we see an increase in the percentage in TAMS funding in the next tranche for the installation of solar panels on farm buildings? Second, can farmers who have been refused recently-----

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-----be prioritised in the next round for funding?

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