Grant for storm damaged sheds “appreciated” – say ICMSA
Farmers will “welcome and appreciate” Minister Martin Heydon’s decision to introduce support for replacement roofs under TAMS, predict the ICMSA. The move comes after Storm Éowyn's high winds damaged farm buildings across the country and left farms without electricity and water for weeks.
Chairperson of ICMSA’s Farm Business Committee, Pat O’Brien, welcomed the introduction of "this sensible solution" predicting it will receive a large response and will reduce the cost burden of repairs for farmers. Mr O’Brien said that provided the conditions were reasonable and practical, ICMSA anticipated a very significant "take-up".
“The Minister said that the application process for this investment is to be available later this year and we’d urge him and his Department to ensure the systems are in place as soon as possible – and certainly before there’s a possibility of storms starting again next Autumn.
“The priority has to be to repair before there’s a possibility of another storm that could put the shed roofs beyond the point of repair entirely. There are many cases where traditional farm sheds may need replacement roofs, and the grant scheme should allow a farmer to replace on a like-for-like basis if the farmer wishes to retain the history and heritage of such buildings,” said Mr O’Brien.
“During storms, falling roofs pose a significant threat to human and animal safety; farmers prepared to the best of their ability for Storm Éowyn but the destruction on farms that it caused was beyond their control in so many cases. It is important that the Government has recognised this and is proposing to support them – and farmers appreciate that,” Mr O’Brien said.
The Farm Business Committee Chairperson also welcomed the fact that all generators will now be supported by TAMS, so that farmers will be able to receive grant-aid for diesel generators.
“ICMSA had previously written to both the Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Finance seeking this specific change. In light of recent storms, the ability to invest in a generator is important to future-proof farms against extreme weather events, especially given their frequency. The changes to grant aid will help in this regard,” he concluded.