TAMS reference costs increase ‘hopelessly inadequate’ says ICMSA

TAMS has been a success but needs to remain relevant 

An increase in TAMS reference costs has been announced by the Department of Agriculture. File Picture. 

Responding to the announced increase in TAMS reference costings, chairperson of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) Farm and Rural Affairs Committee, Denis Drennan, said that while any increase was welcome, upwards adjustments had to be sufficient to maintain the real value of the grants which “have been drastically eroded”.

He also highlighted how the increase was “hopelessly underpowered and inadequate” against the kind of inflation in construction costs that everyone – including the Department – knows has taken place.