I raise the issues surrounding the operation of the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS, which is a farm investment grant scheme run by the Department of agriculture, and how we can make the system more accessible and workable for farmers. There is growing frustration across the sector with the current ranking and selection process. That is the main barrier. Many farmers applying for slurry storage, solar PV and other essential investments are being ruled out, even where they are trying to meet new environmental and regulatory requirements. In some cases, only 10% of solar applications are being approved. Delays in processing are adding further uncertainty for the farming community.

Farmers are also raising concerns about the exclusion of domestic farm dwellings on the same MPRN that is included on the application, the financial risk of paying non-refundable grid assessment fees and the wider issue of outdated rural grid infrastructure. These are practical barriers that are preventing farmers from investing in renewable energy and compliance measures. This is affecting dairy, dry stock, tillage and mixed farms across the country. I call on the Minister for agriculture to come to the Seanad to make a statement and to have a debate on this issue, on how the system can be streamlined, how delays can be reduced and how we can ensure that farmers who want to invest in sustainability can do so effectively, making the scheme genuinely accessible to the people it is intended to support.