Dublin, 15 October 2025 — Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced the commencement of advance payments under the 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), with €510.9 million set to be distributed to 110,499 farmers starting Thursday, 16 October.
The payments, which represent 70% of the total allocation, are designed to support farm income and bolster rural economies. Combined with the €183 million already issued under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme in September, the Department has paid out over €694 million in area-based supports in the past month.
“These payments are a critical element of family farm income and make a significant contribution to the wider rural economy,” Minister Heydon stated. He confirmed that 93.87% of eligible applicants have already received payment, exceeding the Farmers Charter commitment to process 90% of applications promptly.
The BISS and CRISS schemes are part of Ireland’s implementation of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2023–2027. BISS provides direct income support to farmers to ensure sustainability and viability, while CRISS redistributes funds from larger farms to medium and smaller holdings.
Payments under the ANC scheme continue as additional cases are cleared, and disbursements under the Eco-Scheme are scheduled to begin next week. Farmers with outstanding documentation are urged to submit it promptly to avoid delays.
A county-by-county breakdown shows Cork leading with over €60 million paid to 11,121 herds, followed by Galway (€40 million), Mayo (€36 million), and Tipperary (€36 million). The full distribution reflects the scale and reach of the CAP-funded supports across Ireland’s agricultural landscape.
The Department received 123,705 applications by the 15 May deadline, with 117,713 currently deemed eligible. Ineligibility may result from lack of payment entitlements, zero declared land area, or non-qualifying land use.
Minister Heydon reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering timely and efficient support to farmers, emphasizing the schemes’ role in sustaining Ireland’s agricultural sector and rural communities.
WFP-Picture-Martin-Heydon-Irl-Mnstr-for-Agric-and-WFP-Director-Cindy-Mccain-by-Rein-Skullerud
