Smith confirms farming payment dates 

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Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has confirmed farmers will begin to receive payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from September 18.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD also received confirmation that the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) payments will start on October 16.

Deputy Smith was informed of the dates by his party colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue TD, in response to a parliamentary question on the matter.

“I’m delighted that farmers will begin to receive ANC payments from mid-September and BISS payments in October. These two schemes are hugely important for farmers, providing direct financial aid to ensure their continued sustainability and viability,” Deputy Smith said.  

Minister McConalogue said he was fully aware of the importance of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) schemes as for many farmers these form a significant proportion of their annual payments.

The planned 2024 payment dates for the ANC scheme and the BISS scheme, are as follows:

•     September 18th, 2024 – ANC Advance payments commence.

•     October 16th, 2024 – BISS Advance payments commence.

•     December 2nd, 2024 – Balancing payments commence.

Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) provides a direct income support to Irish farmers through CAP.

The Areas of Natural Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems and poor soil conditions.

Asked about the planned payment dates for the Agri-Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (Acres) Minister McConalogue said for 2024 advance payments are scheduled to commence in November.

For 2023, the first payments made were in December when €88.35 million was issued in advance payments to almost 20,000 Acres general participants.

Interim payments were issued to allow other participants in Feb and March this year.

Scheme year 2024 advance payments are scheduled to commence in November 2024.

Minister McConalogue said: “My Department commenced balancing payments on the 19th of June. A total of 31,808 participants have been paid to date, with total payments made to ACRES participants since last December now amounting to just under €234 million. Further balancing payments will continue to be made on a fortnightly basis as cases are cleared.”