There has been decline of 6,700 in the number of Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) applicants since 2022, analysis of Department of Agriculture data shows.

In 2026, 122,151 farmers applied to the scheme compared to 128,857 in 2022. Cork has seen the biggest drop in farmer numbers with 838 fewer applicants in the five-year period. It was followed by Galway with 690 fewer applicants and Mayo. Tipperary, Kerry and Donegal were close behind. The county with the least decline is Dublin, with 40 fewer farmers applying in 2026 compared to 2022.

There were over 2,089 fewer BISS applicants in 2026 compared to 2025, according to figures from the Department of Agriculture, with 122,151 applicants as of 15 May, compared to 124,240 last year.

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Despite this, there was an increase of 1,152 in the number of entitlements transferred.

Factors

Responding to a parliamentary question from Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon 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.”

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.