BREEDERS and producers who applied for Government funding earlier this year to help upgrade their facilities are still waiting to hear if their applications have been approved.

This is the first year that equine farming was eligible for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme, run by the Department of Agriculture, and it is believed that the number of applications for the first tranche of grants was four times higher than in previous years.

There are also unconfirmed reports that the IT problems in the Department also led to delays.

Meanwhile, the cost of fencing and building materials continues to rise, leaving grant applicants in a position where they are now facing a bigger bill if and when they go ahead with facility upgrade.

One prominent breeder, who asked not to be named, told The Irish Field: “We went to a lot of trouble to apply for the TAMS funding, filling in the equine census, getting a TAMS registration number, getting a quote for stud fencing, and hiring an agricultural advisor to ensure we met all the criteria.

“When we applied for Tranche 1 in May we were told we would know the result by early August. We put in a second application in August for Tranche 2 and were advised that we would hear about that one by mid-October. But we have heard nothing about either application and I understand not a penny has been paid out.

“In the meantime, costs have soared. Our timber supplier says the price has doubled in a year. I’m very annoyed with our politicians and civil servants.”

Last month the Minister for Agriculture announced that all eligible applications for Tranche 1 would be approved and that the deadline for Tranche 2 applications had been extended.

However, at time of going to press the Department press office had not replied to a query from The Irish Field on when grant applicants could expect to receive confirmation of their application status and the actual funds.

The Irish Farmers Journal has reported that there has been a downturn in building work on farms this year due partly to the delay in approving TAMS grants for many of the 8,000 applicants.