Written answers
Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Agriculture Schemes
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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629. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise the measures that his Department have put in place to reduce administrative issues arising from the application process for the basic income support for sustainability scheme and the related eco-scheme and complementary redistributive income support for sustainability scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24771/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to helping farmers to submit their scheme applications on-time and to assisting farmers to rectify any issues identified on their application, to allow payments to issues as promptly as possible in 2023.
My Department opened the online application process for the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability and other area related schemes on the 28 February 2023. The closing date for applications is 29 May 2023, which provides farmers and advisors the longest possible application window to submit their application. The online application is intuitive, dynamic and user- friendly, alerting applicants of errors as they move through the application.
To reduce the administrative burden of applying for the various schemes available, the farmer can apply for a total of nine area-based schemes on the one application portal. The nine area based schemes include the following schemes:
- Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS)
- Complementary Redistribution Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS)
- Eco Scheme
- Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CIS-YF)
- Protein Aid
- Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC)
- Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM)
- annual claims for Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and/or Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), if applicable.
The online application process for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability and other area-based schemes facilitates early pre-checking of applications providing the opportunity to rectify errors without penalty. For example, the preliminary checks process allows farmers an early opportunity to correct land errors without penalty up to June. My Department issued some 7,138 Preliminary Check notifications in 2022 and in addition, over 9,000 letters were issued where problems were identified. Preliminary Checks will commence again in June this year. Separately, from 2023 online applicants will benefit from Area Monitoring System checks affording farmers another opportunity to correct land errors without penalty up to 2 October 2023. This will enable many farmers to resolve issues at the dedicated Direct Payments helpdesks and at the National Ploughing Championships this year.
My Department has led in the development of a geo-tagged photograph application (app) for use on Smartphone and mobile devices. The app, known as AgriSnap, enables farmers and advisors/consultants to take geo-tagged photographs using their Smartphone and submit them securely to Department in an efficient and seamless manner. The introduction of AgriSnap will allow farmers and advisors to upload a geotagged photograph using a Smartphone in a secure and prompt manner. This will facilitate a faster turnaround of queries by the Department.
With the introduction of the new Eco scheme in 2023, my Department carried out the mapping of features for the new scheme and released them in September 2022 as “indicative estimates” to aid the 2023 application process in relation to Eco scheme Agricultural Practice 1 (Space for Nature). My Department also made available a farmers' stocking rate information in September 2022, to aid the 2023 application process in relation to Eco scheme Agricultural Practice 2 (Extensive Livestock Production).
A range of supports have been put in place during the application window for farmers to make their online applications in 2023, which include the in-person BISS Clinics offering one-to-one access to Department officials. Department officials are working with farmers throughout more than 25 locations around the country to ensure their 2023 applications are submitted correctly and on time. Other supports such as a dedicated online email address and a dedicated help desk telephone line supplemented by “how to” guides and videos are also in available to help farmers submit their applications. In the run up to the 29 May closing date, Department officials will also be follow-up with farmers and advisors, for example if applications are still in draft and not submitted.
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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630. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of farmers receiving notification of significant reduction in payments under the new basic income support for sustainability and related schemes in comparison to the previous basic payment scheme; the supports that are being offered to farmers who have received a payment reduction in real-terms and who rely on these payments to meet outgoings, loans and bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24772/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability) scheme replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2023. This means that the BPS plus the Greening payment is replaced by a single BISS payment. The value of all payment entitlements reduced in 2023 based on the financing available for each Direct Payment Scheme. The reason for this is the addition of new schemes and an increase in the payment rates for other schemes, such as Voluntary Coupled Support and Complimentary Income Support for Young Farmers.
From 2023 there are two new schemes, the Eco-Scheme, and the Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) Scheme or more commonly known as ‘front loading’. In Table 1 below is an example to demonstrate the new payment structure for a sample case.
Table 1: Examples of Payment Structures
Payment Structure in 2022 | Payment Structure in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) Average payment entitlements unit value | €180 | Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS)Average payment entitlements unit value | €155 |
| Greening Payment at 44% | €80 | Eco scheme (per hectare) | €62 |
| CRISS (per hectare) | €43 | ||
| Sum payment in 2022 | €260 | Sum payment in 2023 | €260 |
This is assuming participation in the schemes mentioned above and it is important to note that payment rates will vary depending on the uptake by farmers for each scheme. Convergence will continue in 2023-2026 with all payment entitlements reaching 85% of the BISS national average by 2026.
I am very aware of the importance of Direct Payments to all farmers, and I have ensured that there has been extensive consultation with farmers and farm bodies on the development of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan in line with EU Regulations by means of Townhall meetings and other in person events. In addition to this My Department has hosted information sessions, Direct Payment application clinics, and created online prediction tools to ensure all farmers are aware of the financial impacts of the restructuring of Direct Payments.
Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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631. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person's (details supplied) single farm payment was effected last year; if he would reconsider the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24807/23]
Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person's (details supplied) GLAS scheme has been reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24808/23]
Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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633. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a persons' (details supplied) GLAS application was not looked at favourably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24811/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 to 633, inclusive, together.
The person named applied successfully for GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2016.
The GLAS contract was selected for an on-farm inspection on 9th March 2022. During the course of this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the scheme were noted and outlined in the Notification of Findings letter which issued to the person named on 30th August 2022. The option to appeal this decision was also outlined.
The person named subsequently submitted a request for a review of the inspection findings which was received on 19th December 2022. The Regional Inspector upheld the original decision and notified the person named by letter dated 21st February 2023.
With regard to a reduction in non-GLAS scheme payments, this has occurred due to the penalties outlined above. The Department can confirm that all monies in relation to these penalties have now been recouped in full, from GLAS and other Department scheme payments.
I have made enquiries and I understand that an appeal has been lodged to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.
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