A review of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) reference costs for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) is planned to take place in the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move was confirmed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna F\u00e1il TD Jackie Cahill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputy Cahill, who is also chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, asked about the methodology used to establish the reference costs used for the scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister McConalogue said that reference costs for TAMS 3 were increased “as appropriate” across all schemes, based on a review carried out between late 2022 and early 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The reference costs are updated periodically to ensure that they reflect actual\/market costs for the construction of farm buildings and facilities, and for farm equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“To achieve this objective, the review of the reference costs is based on a comparison with receipted costs. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
“For an effective comparison, an adequate number of receipted claims are required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A further review of the reference costs is envisaged in the second half of this year, with a publication of the revised costs likely in mid-2025,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reference costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Farming organisations have repeatedly called for a review of the TAMS reference costs to account for increased costs of materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) National Rural Development chair, John Curran<\/a> previously said that the current reference costs are \u201cvery much out of kilter with prevailing costs of materials\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers\u2019 Association (ICMSA) also said that some farmers are \u201cno longer even considering TAMS\u201d due to the costings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n