328. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in paying the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II. [36434/15]

A series of new Targeted Agricultural Modernisations Schemes was launched by my Department under TAMS II earlier this year. These schemes were all opened for on-line application and in some cases the period for applications under the first tranche has not yet closed.

The closing date for receipt of applications under the first tranche for the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme was the 25th September 2015 and the closing date for the Dairy Equipment Scheme was the 16th October 2015. All applications received are being examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. However, no payments will be made until after approvals have issued and all works are completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the various schemes.