The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is set to open its doors to farmers having difficulties with Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications in the coming weeks.

A range of supports to assist farmers in making their BPS applications online were announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, today.

“The recent growth in the number of online BPS applications shows that, increasingly, farmers are finding that the best way to apply for vital schemes such as BPS and ANC is online.

“Online applications offer a range of benefits for farmers, which also help my Department to issue these vital payments more efficiently,” he said.

Under EU regulations, 100% of BPS applications will be required to be online by 2018, according to the Department.

Last year, a range of supports were offered to farmers and similar initiatives will now be in place as the 2017 BPS application deadline of May 15 approaches, it added.

I am now putting in place a range of initiatives aimed at making it easier for farmers to gain the benefits of online application.

“In particular, I have asked staff in my Department to be available to meet with farmers on a one-to-one basis in various locations to assist them in making their applications,” Minister Creed said.

Meeting times and venues

Department staff will be able to meet farmers at the Regional Office in Farnham Street, Cavan between 9.30am and 5.30pm on:

BPS

Meetings will be organised at the Department’s Regional Office in Derryhallagh, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim between 9.30am and 5.30pm on:

BPS
The Department’s offices on Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois will also have a team available to meet with farmers every weekday, from now until the BPS closing date of May 15.

In addition, extended evening and weekend hours will be available in Portlaoise as the closing date approaches, the Department confirmed.

Finally, Department staff will also be available to assist farmers in making their online BPS applications in the following locations from 2.30pm to 7.30pm:

bps

Farmers encountering difficulties can contact a dedicated helpline at 0761-064420; information on how to apply to the scheme is also available on the Department’s website.

Farmers are set to be contacted about their BPS applications again by the Department closer to the deadline of May 15.

I would urge as many farmers as possible to apply online for their 2017 BPS at an early date. This can be done by farmers themselves or via an agricultural advisor.

“One of the key benefits of applying online is that farmers will be able to avail of preliminary checks,” Minister Creed said.

“These checks allow farmers who have submitted their BPS applications online to subsequently rectify – by a certain date – non-compliances identified by my Department in the areas of over-claims, dual-claims and overlaps – in advance of any penalty being applied,” he concluded.