The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is currently seeking information from service providers of high-resolution satellite imagery.

The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) is the department’s spatial database, which is used to assess scheme compliance.

The system was built on initial digitising of paper maps completed back in 1995 for the original EU area-aid schemes.

Each year, almost €1.7 billion is paid out to farmers based on the land data within LPIS.

The LPIS contains over 1.3 million polygons/parcels representing the land holdings of over 130,000 farmers and forest owners.

These parcels have been updated and modified on a continual basis since then.

The department said that digital ortho-imagery is a critical component of the database as it helps to validate the various scheme claims by applicants.

The imagery allows the department to determine the land cover of holdings and the eligibility of land for agricultural scheme payments.

Therefore, DAFM said that it is vital it has access to the most up-to-date imagery, which can be used in processing of the requested updates and various projects.

The department’s aim is to acquire complete coverage of the Republic of Ireland within the maximum period of three years.

While there is a contract in place with the external aerial imagery supplier, the department is currently exploring possible solutions to procure additional data.

Due to the various constraints - such as difficult and unstable weather conditions - completing the capture for the whole area of the Republic of Ireland is very onerous.

It is envisaged that the high-resolution satellite imagery will complement the aerial imagery.

It is expected the satellite imagery would cover areas of the country not flown by DAFM’s aerial imagery provider in the previous year.

The department has invited responses to this request for information from tenderers for the supply of such services.

DAFM noted that it is not seeking tenders at this stage.

"It is purely an information exercise seeking the views of market operators on possible approaches that may be taken in a tender process," the department added.

The deadline for responses to be submitted is 3:00p.m on Thursday, April 17, 2025.