ICMSA repeat call for Replacement Roofs Grant Aid under TAMS

The Chairperson of ICMSA’s Farm Business Committee, Pat O’Brien, has expressed disappointment that the grant aid for replacement roofs under TAMS has still not been made available to farmers.   

Mr. O’Brien said that ICMSA had looked for the introduction of the grant aid earlier this year and before the Autumn storm period was upon us.

“Back in March, we were promised this support later in the year. It’s November now, and there’s still no sign of it and farmers are concerned that it won’t arrive until the new year,” said Mr. O’Brien.

He continued by noting that it was the Minister himself who had said that this grant aid was important to ensure farms are more resilient in advance of future weather events.

“This delay is hugely disappointing, and farmers have delayed carrying out repairs in expectation of the grant being made available.   What are farmers supposed to do?   If you repair the shed now you won’t get the grant. Should we go away and buy rain jackets for the animals and wait till the application process opens?”

Mr. O’Brien warned that this delay means that by the time that roofs are officially included it is likely that a full year will have elapsed since Storm Eowyn struck the country – the event that triggered calls for roof replacement to be included under TAMS.

“This is the very event that highlighted the urgent need for such assistance and ICMSA is calling on the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Finance to make the funds available immediately and allow farmers to complete the necessary works.   It’s a major health and safety concern, for both farmers and their animals, to have ‘blown down’ and structurally questionable sheds left unrepaired. Sheds with missing sheeting leave livestock at the mercy of the elements. It is unfair when farmers are doing their best to look after their animals to be left waiting on grant aid that was indicated last March but is still nowhere to be seen”, said Mr. O’Brien.

Stressing that this scheme must be introduced without further delay, and the Minister should make good on his promise from March, Mr O’Brien maintained that farmers should be allowed to proceed with roof repairs now – in advance of the any winter storms – with the assurance that funding will follow. Payments should be backdated for any work carried out from this point onward.

Mr. O’Brien also urged flexibility in the scheme’s criteria: “The grant may require a full roof replacement. While that’s necessary in many cases, there should also be provision for part-roof repairs. The farmer should have the option of a full or partial repair if suitable. It’s a ‘no-brainer’ to have this option and can save money for both the Departments and the farmer”, he said.

The ICMSA Committee Chairperson concluded by observing that 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 ‘built heritage’ of such buildings.

ENDS       12 November 2025

 Pat O’Brien, 087-4904424

Chairperson, ICMSA Farm Business Committee

 Or

 Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office