With the deadline of the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) applications just over two weeks away, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, has urged farmers to submit their applications as soon as possible.

The  BISS deadline of midnight on Monday 29th May is also the deadline for the related submission of applications for a range of other schemes including the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers, the National Reserve and Transfers of Entitlements.

The Department has been helping farmers to make their applications in recent weeks through its in-person BISS clinics at locations around the country.

The Department has planned further BISS clinics through the month of May. The BISS clinics will take place from 11am to 6pm.

Date

Location

Venue

Tues 16th May

Cavan, Co Cavan

Department Office 11am-6pm

Wed 17th May

Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim

Department Office 11am-6pm

Thurs 18th May

Tuam, Co Galway

Ard Rí House Hotel 11am-6pm

Tues 23rd May

Mitchelstown, Co Cork

Firgrove Hotel 11am-6pm

Wed 24th May

Nenagh, Co Tipperary

Abbey Court Hotel 11am-6pm

Thurs 25th May

Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny

Spring Hill Court Hotel 11am-6pm

Farmers can also contact the Direct Payments Helpdesk on 057-8674422.

The lines will be open for extended hours in the run up to the application deadline as follows:

  • between 9.15am and 12 midnight Monday 22nd May (SCEP closing date).
  • between 9.15am and 9pm from Tuesday 23rd May to Friday 26th May.
  • between 9.30am and 5pm on Saturday 27th May and Sunday 28th May.
  • between 9.15am and 12 midnight on Monday 29th May.

The Department offices in Portlaoise, Co. Laois will also have a team available to meet with farmers from now until the BISS closing date of 29th May 2023.

Farmers must apply for BISS and other area-based payments using the Department’s online facility (agfood.ie).

They must log onto www.agfood.ie and click on the BISS/area-based schemes link to start their applications.

Alternatively, farmers can contact a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved Advisor to make the application on their behalf. For a list of FAS approved Advisors, please see https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b41a6-farm-advisory-system/#find-a-farm-advisor

Should farmers wish to contact the Department in relation to online applications they can do so at:

  • 049 4368288 – in relation to queries on registering for www.agfood.ie  – for example queries on lost passwords, how to register
  • 057 8674422 in relation to queries on completing the BISS application or to request a paper copy of the Terms and Conditions