Commencement of advance payments under the 2026 Eco-Scheme has been announced today (Friday, October 16).

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has confirmed that advance payments under the Eco-Scheme, worth €203 million to 106,913 farmers, have commenced.

"The aim of Ireland’s Eco-Scheme is to reward farmers for undertaking actions beneficial to the climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity," Minister Heydon said.

"Eco-Scheme payments are a vital support for farmers, and I have maintained the payment rate in 2026 at €66 per eligible hectare, same as it was in 2025."

BISS and CRISS delayed

Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (CRISS) payments had also been due to reach farmers this week.

However, due to public sector strike action, it is anticipated that these payments will now issue on Tuesday, October 27.

Minister Heydon commented on this: "My department remains committed to ensuring that all scheme payments continue to issue in the most efficient way possible to ensure that these vital supports are delivered to farmers in a timely manner.

The Eco-Scheme advance payments are commencing today at a rate of 75% which is 5% higher than it was paid in recent years, Minister Heydon added.

"Payments will be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days and the department will continue to process, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria," he said.

"I would however urge any farmers with outstanding requests for documentation or evidence from my department to return them."

He added that any farmers who applied for Agricultural Practice 3 and/or Agricultural Practice 5 must put up their closing stocks on the National Fertiliser Database to allow payments to issue as soon as possible.

Farmers wishing to contact the department regarding their Eco-Scheme payments can phone the direct payments helpdesk at 057 8674422.

Farmers can also submit any queries they may have online via MyAgfood.ie.

A county breakdown of payments is available below: