Fianna Fáil has hit out at the Government after it was revealed that 99% of farmers who applied for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) have not received any payments.

Farmers used the scheme to modernise equipment and buildings on their farms.

TD for Laois, Sean Fleming, said: "The scheme is structured in such a way which requires farmers to undertake the modernisation works first, and then a payment is made once the process is complete.

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"This means that many farmers have secured credit from banks on the understanding that the TAMS payment would be made within a reasonable period of time.

"However a major problem has arisen as farmers are reporting that their applications are yet to be processed. This is despite them having submitted all the necessary documentation months ago."

He added: "I raised this issue with Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed in the Dáil. I was shocked by the reply which I received.

"The Minister has informed me that while the number of applications for dairy equipment under scheme stands at 2,218, only 8 claims have been cleared for payment. What's worse is the fact that Minister Creed could not even confirm that a single payment has been made."

(CD/JP)