Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, has today announced that farmers will shortly receive a Guide to Basic Payment Scheme entitlements which will give an indication of the number and value of entitlements they may be allocated under the new Scheme. The Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment replace the Single Payment Scheme in 2015 and a new set of payment entitlements will be allocated to those eligible to take part in the scheme.

To be eligible to take part in the scheme an applicant must be an active farmer who holds an allocation right and must submit a Basic Payment Scheme application in 2015. Direct Payments to eligible farmers will be based on the value of their Basic payment scheme entitlements together with a Greening payment and payment on any other associated scheme that the farmer participates in. The number of entitlements that will be allocated will be determined by the number of eligible hectares declared by the farmer in 2013 or 2015, whichever is the lesser. The value of entitlements that will be allocated will be based on a fixed percentage of the value of Single Payment Scheme entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 and any payment received under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme.

A definitive calculation of the number and value of entitlements cannot be issued until all land is declared and accepted as eligible in 2015. However, this Guide will provide an estimate of the number of entitlements that may be allocated and their value, based on the information already held in the Department regarding 2013 land references and 2014 entitlement values. It will also indicate the convergence path that the values will take over the course of the scheme between 2015 and 2019 and the portion of the overall payment that will be comprised of Greening payment.

 The Minister concluded: All data used for calculating this guide to Basic Payment Scheme entitlements is based on estimated values as the National Average cannot be calculated until all eligible land is declared for the 2015 scheme year. Following that, a definitive statement will issue to all farmers before April 2016. In the meantime, I believe this Guide will assist farmers in advance of submitting their 2015 Basic Payment scheme application which closes to applications on 15May 2015. I recommend that all farmers register for, and use, the online application system, which minimises the risk of error both for the applicant and the Department.

Notes for Editors

Allocation Right: Farmers who received a direct payment in 2013 under the Single Payment Scheme, the Burren Life Scheme, the Grassland Sheep Scheme or the Beef Data Programme have an automatic right to receive an allocation of Basic Payment Scheme entitlements.

Reference Value:  The value of entitlements to be allocated to a farmer will be based on a fixed percentage of the value held by a farmer in 2014. A farmer’s 2014 value consists of the total value of entitlements, either owned or leased, and of the payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme, if any. 

Convergence: All entitlements held under the Basic Payment Scheme are subject to convergence. Entitlements with an initial unit value that is above the Basic Payment Scheme national average will decrease in value over the five years of the scheme. Entitlements that have an initial unit value that is below 90% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average will gradually increase in value over the five years of the scheme. All entitlements must reach a minimum value of 60% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average by 2019. By 2019, no farmer will receive a payment per hectare of more than €700.

Agfood: This is the Department of agriculture Food and the Marine’s online service which allows registered farmers to, amongst other services, make online applications, check greening compliance and cross compliance and digitise maps online.

View this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 30/2015 (pdf 449Kb) 

Date Released: 24 February 2015