Ireland’s minister of agriculture has announced the re-opening of a grant aid scheme run by the Irish government to encourage investment by pig and poultry producers.
The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme had been suspended earlier in 2011 because of the uncertain budgetary situation in Ireland. The government will make funds available for grant aid to be offered in 2012 towards projects on farms to improve poultry and pig welfare as well as for bioenergy and job creation. Among the applications of TAMS previously had been financial help where pig units needed to change the accommodation of their sows in gestation towards a loose housing arrangement in line with imminent European Union animal welfare requirements.
