Agriculture Schemes
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-14
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William Aird (FG), Laois

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?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14