Advance Eco Scheme payments worth €194m are on their way to just under 110,000 farmers, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon announced on Wednesday.
The payments due represent 70% of the total Eco Scheme payment of €66/ha in 2025 and the payment run is to issue funds to 93% of participating farmers eligible for the scheme.
"My Department remains committed to ensuring that all scheme payments continue to issue in the most efficient way possible to ensure that these vital supports are delivered to farmers in a timely manner,” the Minister stated.
“Today, 93% of all 2025 Eco Scheme-eligible applicants have been paid in line with the Department's commitment under the farmers charter to pay 90% of eligible applicants.
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“The Eco Scheme advance payments are commencing today at a rate of 70%, which is the same rate it was paid at in 2024 and 2023.”
The Minister said that funds will land in farmers’ bank accounts over the coming days and that the Department of Agriculture will continue to process all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria.
“I would however urge any farmers with outstanding requests for documentation from my Department, for example receipts for planting trees or hedges for agricultural practice four, to return them to allow payments to issue as soon as possible.”
Wednesday’s announcement follows a 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) advance payment run last week worth €511m to over 110,500 farmers, meaning that €705m in advance funds will be with farmers after this week’s payment run is complete.
Farmers looking to query the Department on their Eco Scheme payments can call the direct payments helpdesk at 057-867 4422 or submit questions online at via www.MyAgfood.ie.
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