John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for basic income support for sustainability scheme in 2024 and 2025 in each county; the number of applications that were approved and were refused, respectively; the number of the refusals that were appealed; if the appeal was successful or not, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55027/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) from 2023. The BISS is designed to provide a direct income support to Irish farmers to underpin their continued sustainability and viability.

Applications for all area-based schemes, including BISS, are accepted via my Department’s online application system, which is accessed through agfood.ie. Applications must be made on an annual basis, with the final closing date in the past two years set at May 15th.

While BISS is the most significant area-based scheme in terms of both payments and numbers of applicants, not all area-based applicants are entitled to a BISS payment. For example, to draw down payment under BISS you must hold payment entitlements, which not all applicants do. Also, the application may be submitted to facilitate payment under one of the other schemes operated by my Department, such as the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme.

The table attached shows the number of applications for the 2024 and 2025 scheme years. It also shows the number of eligible BISS applications in those years and the number paid for the 2024 scheme year. A county breakdown is also supplied. Payments in respect of 2025 will commence on October 16th.

It is important to note that the Number of Eligible Applications (with Entitlements) for 2025 will increase in the coming weeks and months as farmers who have applied for a new herd number or who have applied for a change in farm structure, for example setting up a company, have their applications finalised.

The primary reason an otherwise eligible applicant is refused payment is that the application was submitted late. As per the Terms and Conditions any application received after June 6th will be subject to 100% penalty.

The number of applicants submitted after June 6th in 2024 and 2025 is set out below, along with the number of appeals and the number of successful appeals.

2024

2025