2797. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which the reference costs currently applied under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, were last reviewed and updated; whether his Department has conducted an assessment of the gap between current reference costs and actual market costs faced by farmers undertaking approved works; whether he will commit to an immediate review of those reference costs in light of continued inflation in construction, labour and input costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63938/26]

The reference costs for TAMS are updated periodically to ensure that they reflect actual/market costs for the construction of farm buildings and facilities, and for farm equipment. To achieve this objective, the review of the reference costs is based on a comparison with receipted costs.

The reference costs were last updated for applications received after 6 September 2025.

My Department continues to keep these costs under review but it is important to take into account that the current CAP programme cycle is coming to an end which does place some constraints on timing of any further changes.