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Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) replaces the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). The BISS is designed to provide a direct income support to Irish farmers to underpin their continued sustainability and viability.
The main income support will continue to be based on Payment Entitlements.
You must have 1 eligible hectare to support each Payment Entitlement.
To receive a support under BISS, applicants must:
- have an Eligible Hectare to accompany each Payment Entitlement. One Eligible Hectare of land declared = one BISS Payment Entitlement
- be a holder of a registered herd number or have applied for a herd number on or before 15 May 2024
- be an Active Farmer: The person claiming payments on the land must be the person farming and/or managing the land, that is, the Active Farmer. The farming activities can include meeting a minimum stocking rate (0.10 livestock unit per forage hectare), producing crops, cutting hay/silage, maintaining landscape features. If you are not the person farming/managing the land, you should not be declaring the land on your 2024 BISS application
You are paid per hectare of eligible land farmed and for which you hold entitlements. Under the scheme, this is called an eligible hectare. The maximum rate that you could be paid per hectare is determined by the value of the entitlements you hold.
The number and values of entitlements each farmer holds, depends on factors such as:
- payment rates and number of entitlements received under previous direct payment schemes
- adjustments each year to move values towards the national average (convergence)
- transfers of entitlements between farmers
Each entitlement the farmer holds must be supported by an Eligible Hectare to qualify for payment.
Maximum and minimum payment
The maximum payment that will be granted to any one farmer under the BISS, in any one scheme year is capped at an effective rate of €66,000. No payment will be made under the BISS where the amount is less than €100.
An advance payment may be made in October. Balancing payments under the BISS commence in December.
If you do not meet all of the conditions of the scheme you may receive a reduced payment or no payment.
Applications must be submitted online by midnight on Wednesday 15 May 2024.
To apply online, go to: agfood.ie.
If your login or password has expired and need to be renewed, please contact the department’s Online Services Helpdesk.
Agfood Online Services Helpdesk
Address:
Government Offices, Farnham Street, Cavan, Co Cavan, H12 D459
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Summary:
Agfood Online Services Helpdesk in the Department's Cavan office.
Alternatively, you can authorise a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved Advisor to apply on your behalf. For a listing of approved advisors please go to: Farm Advisory System (FAS).
This is the helpsheet and conditions of the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability and other area related schemes.
BISS and other 2024 Area Based Schemes - Terms and Conditions
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2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) User Guide
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- closing date for applications - 15 May 2024
- closing date for transfer of entitlements - 15 May 2024
- amending your application (no penalty) - 31 May 2024
- late application deadline (with a penalty) - 09 June 2024
- preliminary checks response deadline - 21 June 2024
- Area Monitoring Check notification commence - June 2024
| Venue | Date | Times |
| Ennis - The Woodstock Hotel | Tuesday 2nd April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Oranmore - The Maldron Hotel | Wednesday 3rd April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Athlone - The Sheraton Hotel | Tuesday 9th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Tuam - Ard Rí House Hotel | Wednesday 10th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Ballina - Great National Hotel | Thursday 11th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Enniscorthy - Riverside Park Hotel | Tuesday 16th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Killarney - Randles Hotel | Wednesday 17th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Limerick - DAFM Offices, Raheen | Thursday 18th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Navan - Newgrange Hotel | Tuesday 23rd April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Carndonagh - UNit 10 Spraoi agus Spórt, Supervalu | Wednesday 24th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Donegal Town - Central Hotel | Thursday 25th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Drumshanbo - DAFM Offices | Tuesday 30th April | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Carrickmacross - Shirley Arms Hotel | Wednesday 1st May | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Cavan - DAFM Offices | Thursday 2nd May | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Clonmel - Minella Hotel | Tuesday 7th May | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Mitchelstown - Firgrove Hotel | Wednesday 8th May | 10am - 4.30pm |
| Clonakilty - DAFM Offices | Thursday 9th May | 10am - 4.30pm |
Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme
Address:
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, R32 PRA6
Phone number: