99% BPS applicants paid to date

Advance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) commenced on 17 October 2016 in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors.

The Department (DAFM) reports BPS payments to date are in excess of €1.168bn and have issued to 122,899 applicants.

DAFM adds there are currently 124,028 applicants that have a valid application and who hold entitlements – thus over 99% of applicants currently with a valid application and entitlements have received a payment to date. Payments are ongoing as applications are cleared for payment.

As regards payments to farm partnerships, DAFM says it has not experienced delays in making payments to registered farm partnerships.

Of the 1,413 registered farm partnerships currently on the BPS system, payments have now issued to 1,400 partnerships.

Regarding the young farmer top-up payments, there are a small number of Young Farmer Scheme payments outstanding. The Department is in contact with applicants with regard to further checks and information required to finalise processing of these applications.