Minister McConalogue announces €206 million in advance payments under the 2024 Eco-Scheme to over 110,000 farmers
- Published on: 21 October 2024
- Last updated on: 24 October 2024
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today announced the commencement of advance payments under the 2024 Eco-Scheme.
The Minister said:
“I am pleased to confirm that advance payments under the Eco-Scheme, worth €206 million to 110,450 farmers, have commenced. The aim of Ireland’s Eco-Scheme is to reward farmers for undertaking actions beneficial to the climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity. Eco-Scheme payments are a vital support for farmers and the payment rate in 2024 will be €66.50 per eligible hectare. The €206 million payment made today, which is €22 million more than in the advance payment in 2023, builds on the BISS advance payment last week to over 110,000 farmers meaning that total advance payments on BISS, CRISS and Eco-scheme over the last week amounts to over €712 million.”
The Minister continued:
"I know how important these payments are and have been steadfast in my resolve to ensure that all scheme payments issue to farmers in the most efficient and timely manner possible. I am therefore pleased that with 94% of all 2024 Eco-Scheme eligible applicants being paid today, the department is meeting its commitment under the farmers charter to pay 90% of eligible applicants.”
Concluding, the Minister said:
“The Eco-Scheme advance payments are commencing today at a rate of 70% which is the same rate it was paid at in 2023. Payments will be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days and the department will continue to process, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria. I would however urge any farmers with outstanding requests for documentation from my department, to return them to allow payments to issue as soon as possible.”
Advance Payments under the 2024 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) which commenced last month and 2024 BISS payments that commenced last week are continuing as more cases are cleared for payment.
To facilitate farmers wishing to contact the department regarding their Eco-Scheme payments, extended hours are in place on Wednesday 23 October where the Direct Payments Helpdesk will be available up to 8.30pm. Farmers can ring the Helpdesk at 057-8674422. Farmers can also submit any queries they may have online via www.agfood.ie.
Notes
By close of applications on 15 May 2024, DAFM had received 121,097 applications from farmers for Eco scheme of which at present 117,431 are eligible for payment.
Payments will continue to issue over the coming weeks as further cases are processed and cleared for payment.
The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between society and agriculture that ensures a stable supply of food, safeguards farmers’ income, protects the environment and keeps rural areas vibrant. EU countries implement the CAP at national level with an adopted CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.
The Eco-Scheme, Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) are funded by the EU.