There were 4,617 fewer Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) applications made by farmers in 2025 compared with 2022, new data from Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon shows.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice, he said the reduction in overall application numbers may be partially due to a decrease in the number of farmers, but also reflects the increase in multi-herd partnerships.
“While BISS is the most significant area-based scheme in terms of both payments and numbers of applicants, not all area-based applicants are entitled to a BISS payment," the Minister said.
“To draw down payment under BISS, you must hold payment entitlements, which not all applicants do. Also, the application may be submitted to facilitate payment under one of the other schemes operated by my Department, such as the Areas of Natural Constraints scheme.”
Consistent decline
The reduction in farmers is consistent with the trends of recent years. Data from the 2022 census showed there were almost 8,000 fewer farmers in Ireland compared with 2016.
While the number of BISS applicants is in decline, the census of agriculture carried out in 2020 found that over 278,600 people contributed to farm work in 2020, on 130,200 farms across the country.
Of this figure, 130,220 were the farm owners, 114,300 were family members and the remaining 34,100 were non-family workers.
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