Strike action to delay BISS and CRISS payments for farmers
Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (CRISS) payments due to reach farmers this week will be delayed due to public sector strike action.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) payments under the BISS and CRISS schemes were scheduled to start this Friday (October 16).
In a statement to Agriland DAFM confirmed that as a result of the industrial action "it is anticipated that these payments will now issue on Tuesday, October 27".
The department added: "Payments under the Eco-scheme will commence on schedule this coming Friday and are unaffected by this situation.
"Issuing of payments on time and to the maximum number of farmers is a key priority for the department and every avenue has and continues to be explored to minimise delays insofar as possible.
"As previously indicated, payments under these schemes will issue at the higher rate of 75%."
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon had confirmed the increases in advance scheme payment rates in response to the prolonged dry spell back in August.
The minister had also confirmed a number of flexibilities for actions under certain schemes at the time.
The rate of advance payments increase from 70% to 75% is the maximum amount possible under EU regulations.
The move had followed calls from farm organisations for higher advance payments as farmers, particularly in the south and east, deal with the additional costs and challenges associated with the drought.
Strike action
DAFM has warned that because of the industrial action across the public service tomorrow (Wednesday, October 14) it "may not be in a position to provide its full range of services".
Meat processors have been told not to slaughter tomorrow if veterinary and technical duties cannot be carried out due to the expected public sector strike.
The department also said that veterinary export certification for live animals and animal products or by-products will likely not be available on October 14.
Also from midnight tonight to midnight tomorrow night (in other words, for 24 hours tomorrow), sanitary and phytosanitary inspections of consignments of food, plants and animals at Irish border control posts will not be completed.
