Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme – TAMS 3

Information last updated May 19th, 2023

All details are taken from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine ‘Schemes & Payments’ section located here.
Please check this section for the latest information and updates relating to Farm Schemes & Payments.

What is TAMS 3?

Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) provide grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding. 

TAMS 3 Investment List by Scheme

Solar Capital Investment Scheme

TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme is now open for applications. Applications can be made through your agfood account.

The Solar Capital Investment Scheme will encourage the purchase of solar investments thereby reducing dependence on fossil energy. The solar scheme will be ring fenced with its own investment ceiling of €90,000 and will be grant aided at the enhanced rate of 60%.

For the full Solar Capital Investment Scheme Terms and Conditions please click here.

For the full Solar Capital Investment Scheme application manual please click here.

Marking Sheet for Solar Capital Investment Scheme

Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme

The Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme will facilitate farm modernisation including the provision of animal welfare, improve the working and production conditions on farms, improve competitiveness and contribute to the improvement of agricultural incomes, assist farmers for the storage of animal excreta, soiled water and other farmyard manures and related facilities and assist Equine Farmers in improving animal welfare.

Grant aid will only be paid on approved, completed, and eligible expenditure and shall be paid at the rate of 40% up to the applicable TAMS 3 maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding. 

In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners in a partnership registered on this Department’s Register of Farm Partnership the maximum eligible investment ceiling shall be increased to €160,000. 

However, the minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under this Scheme is €2,000 per application.

For the full Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme Terms and Conditions please click here.

Marking Sheet Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme

Dairy Equipment Scheme

The Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES) provides grants to farmers to facilitate dairy farmers in milk production by providing them with a level of support to meet the capital costs associated with establishment of their enterprise and ensuring that they have the most up-to-date technology available to compete in the modern dairy sector.

The scheme is open to farmers who have a minimum of 5 hectares declared under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) or the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year. 

  • or in the case of intensive enterprises, generate a minimum of 20 production units from farming.

For the full Dairy Equipment Scheme Terms and Conditions please click here.

Marking Sheet Dairy Equipment Scheme

Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme

The Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme will enable farmers to purchase new LESS equipment for the spreading of slurry. 

LESS is an important environmentally sustainable technology that will facilitate Ireland meeting its environmental commitments through reductions in ammonia and other reactive Nitrogen emissions from soil. 

The practice leads to greater nutrient recovery from slurries and indirectly improved nutrient use efficiency, as well as a reduced dependency on chemical fertilisers.

The Scheme is open to farmers who prior to submitting the online TAMS 3 application have a minimum of 5 hectares of owned, leased or rented lands which has been declared under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) or the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year.

  • or are engaged in the breeding, rearing or fattening of pigs and have a minimum of 60 production units at the time of application.
  • LESS Grant-aid will be paid on approved, completed, and eligible expenditure and shall be paid at a rate of 60% up to the applicable maximum LESS investment ceiling.
  • For LESS The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant-aid under the Scheme is €40,000 per holding. 
  • However, in the case of a joint application by two or more eligible partners under a registered farm partnership, the maximum eligible investment ceilings referred to is increased to €60,000. 
  • The investment ceiling under this scheme is NOT subject to the overall TAMS 3 investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding. 
  • Multiple applications per tranche are permissible. However, the minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under this Scheme is €2,000 per application.

For the full Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme Terms and Conditions please click here.

Marking Sheet Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme

The Organic Capital Investment Scheme

The Organic Capital Investment Schemewill facilitate the development of the organic sector to ensure a regular supply of high-quality organic produce to the market.

It also aims to provide an incentive to organic farmers who are current participants of the Organic Farming Scheme to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment by providing them with an increased level of support to meet the capital costs associated with the establishment of their enterprises.

Grant aid will only be paid on approved, completed, and eligible expenditure and shall be paid at the rate of 40% for licensed organic operators and 60% for farmers who are also current participants of the Organic Farming Scheme up to the applicable TAMS 3 maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding. 

In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners in a partnership registered on this Department’s Register of Farm Partnership the maximum eligible investment ceiling shall be increased to €160,000. The minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under this Scheme is €2,000 per application.

For the full Organic Capital Investment Scheme Terms and Conditions please click here.

Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme

The Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme will assist farmers to purchase new equipment for the upgrading of pig and poultry units on their farms thereby supporting farmers’ compliance with animal welfare legislative.

The scheme will facilitate energy efficient measures to improve competitiveness and contribute to the improvement of agricultural incomes.

Grant aid will only be paid on approved, completed, and eligible expenditure and shall be paid at the rate of 40% up to the applicable TAMS 3 PPIS maximum investment ceiling of €500,000

This ceiling includes the €90,000 ceiling available in the other seven TAMS 3 schemes and is in addition to the stand-alone ceilings for the Lower Emission Slurry Scheme (LESS) and the Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS).

Use of this investment ceiling will reduce the €90,000 investment ceiling for all other TAMS 3 schemes, except for LESS and SCIS.

In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners in a partnership registered on this Department’s Register of Farm Partnership the maximum eligible investment ceiling shall remain €500,000. The minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under this Scheme is €2,000 per application.

For the full Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme Terms and Conditions please click here.

Tillage Capital Investment Scheme

The Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) facilitates the Tillage Sector to develop a targeted and precise approach focusing on environmental dividends, efficiency and growth and provides financial support to farmers to help them achieve improved competitiveness, increased efficiency, growth and environmental benefits.

The scheme is open to farmers who have a minimum of 15 hectares of owned, leased or rented lands which have been have declared under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) or the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year.

Grant aid will only be paid on approved, completed and eligible expenditure and shall be paid at the rate of 40% up to the applicable maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding. In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners in a partnership registered on this Department’s Register of Farm Partnership the maximum eligible investment ceiling shall be increased to €160,000. Multiple applications per tranche are permissible. However, the minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under this Scheme is €2,000 per application.

Tillage Capital Investment Scheme Terms and Conditions

Marking Sheet Tillage Capital Investment Scheme