Organic Capital Investment Scheme

About this scheme

OCIS aims to develop Ireland's organic sector and ensure a regular supply of high-quality organic produce, by helping organic farmers upgrade agricultural buildings and equipment. Licensed organic operators receive grant aid at 40% of approved, completed and eligible expenditure; farmers who are also current participants in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) receive an increased rate of 60%, reflecting the added capital costs of running a fully organic enterprise. Both rates apply up to a maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding (€160,000 for two or more eligible partners in a registered Farm Partnership). A separate, dedicated rate and ceiling apply for nutrient storage investments. The minimum eligible investment per application is €2,000, and multiple applications per tranche are permitted. As with other TAMS 3 schemes, applications are made online via agfood.ie and are assessed and ranked against published selection criteria each tranche, with approved works needing to be completed and claimed within set timeframes.

Who can apply

• Applicant must be a licensed/registered organic operator, approved by a private inspection body
• The higher 60% grant rate is available to farmers who are also current participants in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS); other licensed organic operators receive 40%
• As with other TAMS 3 schemes, applicants are generally expected to meet the standard baseline requirement of a minimum of 5 hectares declared under BISS/BPS (or equivalent) in the year of application or preceding year, or a minimum of 20 production units for intensive enterprises (not explicitly restated on this page, but consistent with the TAMS 3 Terms and Conditions structure)
• Minimum eligible investment per application is €2,000
• Multiple applications per tranche are permitted, subject to the applicant's remaining investment ceiling
• Dedicated nutrient storage investments (mass concrete tanks, manure pits, circular slurry stores, geo-membrane lined stores, and related sub-investments): grant-aided at 60% with their own separate €90,000 (€160,000 partnership) investment ceiling, regardless of OFS participation status

How to apply

1. 1Register for the Department's online services at agfood.ie if not already registered.
2. 2Submit the application online via agfood.ie, either yourself or through an authorised agent; multiple applications per tranche are allowed, each subject to the €2,000 minimum investment threshold.
3. 3Applications received in a tranche are assessed and ranked against the scheme's published selection/marking criteria.
4. 4On approval, complete the works within the timeframe specified in the approval letter, notifying the Department in advance of key construction stages where required for certain investments.
5. 5Submit the payment claim online with all required supporting documentation (receipts/invoices, tax clearance, relevant quality certificates, etc.); grant aid is paid at 40% or 60% (as applicable) of the lowest of the reference cost, invoiced cost, or proposed cost, up to the relevant ceiling.