The deadline to submit your Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application is one week from today on Monday, May 16.
As with any scheme application there are many terms and conditions that need to be abided by as you fill out your form.
1. Complete you application form now – there’s just one week to go
You can apply for 2016 BPS online or by completing a paper application form and posting it. If you are sending it by post, the address to send it to is Direct Payments Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
The online facility for the submitting applications to the BPS opened on March 3, 2016 and are to besubmitted online no later than mid-night on Monday, May 16.
2. Certain categories are required to be completed online
While, most farmers can submit a paper application or an online application, certain categories are required to apply using the online facility.
A paper application will not issue to, or be accepted from these categories of farmers. These categories are Partnerships, Greening, Organic and GLAS farmers.
3. Deadline for amendments to you application
Amendments to 2016 BPS applications, including the addition of parcels/plots, may be made up to May 31, 2016 on the BPS 2016 amendment form.
This form sets down full details of the circumstances under which amendments during this period will be accepted.
The form is available from the Basic Payment Unit, Local Offices of the Department, from Teagasc/Agricultural Consultants and on the Department’s website.
You may withdraw land, reduce the claimed area of a parcel or change use from eligible to ineligible (for example, the transfer of a house site), from your application without penalty, at any time after the May 31 2016 closing date for Amendments provided;
- The Department has not notified you about any issues concerning your 2016 BPS
application; - You have not been notified of an on-the-spot inspection;
- You have not been either fully or partially paid under the BPS.
If you have been notified of an on-the-spot inspection or an inspection reveals an irregularity, an amendment cannot be accepted to that part of your application that is affected by the irregularity found. For more information on late amendments, see the Department’s website.
4. Be aware that your farm could be subject to an inspection
On applying for the BPS an applicant accepts that inspections under the direct payment schemes may be announced or unannounced and without prejudice to public liability.
The Department has said that 5% of applicants will be selected for land eligibility inspections under all schemes covered by the BPS application form.
It is a requirement to carry out standard eligibility checks to verify that the actual area claimed under BPS corresponds to the area held and used by the farmer and to ensure there are no overlapping claims, duplicate claims or that ineligible or areas with no agricultural activity are included.
5.Having problems? – Useful contact details
If you’re having problems filling out your BPS application form there are several helpdesks set up by the Department to assist you.
A dedicated telephone helpdesk is also available from Monday May 9 to Friday May 13 until 9pm each night and on both Saturday and Sunday May 14 and 15. The helpdesk can be contacted at 0761 064424.
From Monday May 9 to Friday May 13 the Portlaoise office will be open until 9pm each night.
The Portlaoise office will also be open from 9am to 5pm on Saturday May 14 and Sunday May 15. Finally, the Portlaoise office will be open until midnight on the application deadline of Monday May 16.