Farmers are yet again leaving it to the last week to get their Basic Payment Scheme application in.

With the deadline of Monday 16 May just 12 days away, less than half of farmers have their application submitted.

Of the 56,000 farmers who have submitted, all but 8,000 did so online. The equivalent figure in 2015 on the same date was 51,000. However, the deadline was extended last year to 29 May.

Asked by the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department has strongly come out saying there will be no extension in Ireland following the recent announcement by the European Commission offering the option across Europe.

“It is in the interest of the timely delivery of payments not to extend the deadline beyond May 16,” they said.

The Department is urging all farmers who have not yet submitted their BPS application to do so at the earliest possible date.

The Department has also offered a range of services, from one-to-one advice, a helpline and later opening hours at its office at Government Buildings in Portlaoise as the deadline on 16 May approaches.

Preliminary checks

The Department is also in the final stage of implementing preliminary checks that will allow farmers who apply online to address any dual claims, overclaims and overlaps identified on online applications.

Farmers will be notified and, for the first time, within specified time frames after the BPS closing date, be able to correct the issue without penalty.

This has the potential not only to greatly reduce penalties, but also speed up payments in the autumn.