Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. today announced that deadline for applications under the BDGP would be extended until Friday 5^th June.

Minister Coveney said, “As of yesterday morning, we had almost 15,000 applicants for the programme. The rate of application is increasing, and I want to give as many farmers as possible the opportunity to apply for this excellent scheme.”

The Minister also underlined the flexibility available to BDGP applicants who dispose of some or all of their land before the termination of the six year contract term.

The Minister said “Firstly it is the case that the vast majority of farmers have significantly more land than they need to attract the full payment under the programme, and therefore no problem should arise from the sale or lease of some of their land in such circumstances. Subject to normal terms and conditions, where a farmer disposes of land, whether by sale, lease, gift or inheritance, the transferee may take on the obligations of the transferor under the programme. Alternatively these obligations may expire, with no clawback of the funding received up to that point. The commitments will not of course be considered to have expired where the participant retains sufficient land to fulfil his obligations under the programme.”

 View Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 96/2015 (pdf 362Kb) 

Date Released: 28 May 2015