Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
713. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a person (details supplied) who is waiting for farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32431/26]
View answerThe 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for the named applicant was submitted on 8 May 2025. On that application, two commonage parcels were declared with an agricultural activity of “Other (e.g. Maintenance Activities)”.
As part of Agricultural Activity Desk Checks for the 2025 scheme year, my Department reviewed this application.
On 16 July 2025, my Department issued an Agricultural Activity Notification Letter requesting that evidence of agricultural activity on the parcels concerned be submitted within 14 working days. A final reminder letter issued on 20 August 2025.
On 25 August 2025, documentation in the form of a paid invoice relating to the hire of a tractor and topper, and hedge cutting works, was submitted on behalf of the applicant. Following review of this documentation, my Department contacted the applicant’s agricultural advisor on 16 September 2025 and advised that geotagged photographic evidence would be required for both commonage parcels in order to verify where the declared works had been carried out. My Department again engaged with the adviser on 11 November 2025 regarding this, at which time it was indicated that the requested geotagged evidence would be submitted.
On 22 December 2025, two geotagged images were subsequently submitted by the applicant’s agricultural advisor, as evidence of agricultural activity. These images were processed and confirmed as being located within one of the commonage parcels forming part of the desk check. Following this review, it was determined that the evidence submitted did not verify that a valid agricultural activity had taken place on the lands concerned.
Accordingly, both commonage parcels were recorded as having no agricultural activity. On 18 February 2026, my Department issued an Agricultural Activity Check Failure Letter informing the applicant that, following the administrative review of the application and the supporting evidence submitted, the eligibility criteria had not been met. As a consequence, payments due under BISS and other relevant area-based schemes were subject to penalty.
