88. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to allowing farmers who are currently below slurry storage compliance requirements to access support under the targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, specifically for the purpose of achieving compliance; the pathways available for young qualified farmers and newly established farm partnerships in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35068/26]
Sentiment score: 0.14
I welcome the significant investment that this Government has made through TAMS in supporting farm modernisation, improving environmental sustainability and assisting farmers to meet regulations. However, I want to raise a practical case that is happening on the ground and causing real frustration for young farmers and new farm partnerships. A qualified young farmer operating a newly established family farm partnership recently looked for a TAMS grant to upgrade slurry storage and bring the holding into compliance. However, the application was ineligible because the holding was non-compliant.
Sentiment score: 0.20
This means a farmer is being asked to meet a standard before being allowed to access the support needed to reach it. Those willing to invest to comply are unable to access supports required to do so.
Sentiment score: 0.39
The Minister knows that the farming community accepts the importance of improving storage capacity, and the farmers understand the need to protect water quality, reduce emissions and ensure holdings are compliant. I accept that significant progress in this area has been made through TAMS, especially with enhanced supports for young, trained farmers and new entrants. However, situations like the one I have outlined to the Minister highlight a gap in the practical application of the scheme. This is especially the case for smaller family farms, holdings in transition to the next generation and newly formed partnerships, who can find themselves in a position where the old infrastructure means they are below compliance but the capital cost of reaching compliance is next to impossible, as the Minister knows, without the support of TAMS. What is needed is a workable pathway to achieve these standards. Is there scope within TAMS for future schemes to consider targeted measures specifically aimed at bringing storage compliance standards, phased approaches for farms actively working towards compliance, and clear eligibility routes for young, qualified farmers and newly established partnerships in these circumstances?
Sentiment score: 0.46
These measures are needed, and match environmental ambition and political delivery.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The objective should be to bring farmers into compliance through investment and engagement. It should not be to exclude those who are trying to do the right thing but are limited by financing conditions. I welcome the update from the Department that it is considering additional flexibility on targeted measures, but the Minister knows quite well that there are thousands of people out there from an older generation of farmer who would buy hundreds of cattle but would not buy a load of concrete. The next person in line for succession wants to upgrade that farm and be compliant, but they are being told that they are not getting anything because of the sins of the previous person who was running the farm. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, that is wrong. The Minister and everyone else will be getting that throughout their constituencies. I ask the Minister, if he can at all, to please revisit this and look at it again. We are trying to encourage young farmers to farm the land and they want to do it. The Minister is correct, in that if you had no stock or anything like that previously, you would qualify. I know people who are doing it. I ask the Minister to please look at the person that is taking over from his father or whoever it may be. As the Minister knows, down through the years, you had great farming fathers and the son would come along and might not be as good but they would want to improve the farm. I ask the Minister to please have a look at it.
Sentiment score: 0.17
That is no good to the farmer who cannot get it.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I presume the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is not going to let me back in.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Deputy Kenny, who does not even have a herd number spoke five times, and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will not let me in.
Sentiment score: 0.08
Will the Deputy come home and milk my cows this evening?
Sentiment score: 0.00