Almost €9.4m issued in farm scheme payments last week
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued nearly €9.4 million in scheme payments to farmers last week.
The majority of that total related to balancing payments to farmers participating in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
Over 81% (3,961) of farmers in the scheme received their balancing payments, which amount to around €6.98 million.
The total payments made under the scheme this year now amount to €48.82 million.
The data published by the department also shows that €1.5 million was paid out under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).
€1.47 million was paid to farmers in TAMS 3, while an additional €35,862 was paid out for TAMS 2.
Around €61 million has now been paid out under TAMS 3 across 6,918 claims. There has been almost 27,600 TAMS 3 applications approved with over 9,000 payment claims submitted.
A further €600,000 was paid last week for the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complimentary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS).
This brings the total paid out to farmers under these measures to €844 million.
This figure includes the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF) and the National Reserve.
Over €147,000 was also paid last week to farmers for the 2024 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and Areas of Specific Constraint (ASC).
There was €125,000 issued under the Baling Assistance Payment (BAP), €19,554 for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and €8,000 for the Green, Low-carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS).
Meanwhile, the closing date for applications to be submitted for the 2025 BISS and other area related schemes is fast approaching.
The BISS deadline of midnight on Thursday, May 15 is also the deadline for the related submission of applications for other schemes including the CISYF, eco-scheme, Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC), and transfers of entitlements.
Supports organised by the DAFM are available through in-person clinics and online.
The department has been helping farmers to make their applications in recent weeks through its in-person BISS clinics at locations around the country and there are three more clinics scheduled for this week:
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 6 | Minella Hotel, Clonmel | 10:00a.m - 4:30p.m |
| Wednesday, May 7 | Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown | 10:00a.m - 4:30p.m |
| Thursday, May 8 | DAFM offices, Clonakilty | 10:00a.m - 4:30p.m |
Farmers can also contact the Direct Payments Helpdesk on 057-8674422. The lines will be open for extended hours in the run-up to the application deadline as follows:
- Between 9:00a.m and 9:00p.m from Tuesday, May 6 to Friday, May 9;
- Between 9:30a.m and 5:00p.m on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11;
- Between 9:00a.m and 9:00p.m on Monday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 14;
- Between 9:00a.m and 12 midnight on Thursday, May 15.
Extended opening hours will also operate in Portlaoise, Co. Laois if farmers wish to call in and discuss their application with department staff.
