The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that Cork was the county with the highest number of applications for the new Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme.

Almost 12,500 applications were made by farmers in the Rebel County for the scheme, which replaces the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In total, 124,664 BISS applications were made across the country by the deadline of Monday, May 29.

This figure includes 2,582 temporary reference number applications which are currently undergoing administrative checks by the department to determine eligibility.

The DAFM told Agriland that by the deadline it had received 12,428 applications on behalf of farmers in Co. Cork for the new scheme.

Galway was the county with the second-highest number of applications at 11,671, followed by Co. Mayo with 11,066.

The county with the lowest number of applications was Dublin with 600, followed by counties Louth with 1,454 and Carlow with 1,584.

The following table provides a county-by-county breakdown for the number of applications made to DAFM under the scheme:

The DAFM noted that the figures are subject to change as late applications are received, temporary reference numbers are resolved and other processing takes place to determine eligibility.

It also said that the average farm size under BISS is not yet available.

The department reminded farmers that late applications will be accepted after the closing date of May 29, however a 1% per day penalty will be applied in these instances.

Farmers who have made their BISS and other area-based schemes application, but now wish to make an amendment can do so online at www.agfood.ie until midnight on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, without any penalty.

DAFM reminded farmers and advisors that the deadline for the transfer of payment entitlements has been extended until midnight on June 14, 2023.