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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, today issued a further urgent reminder to farmers to submit their online applications for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) as soon as possible. 2018 is the first year that applications for the BPS and the Transfer of Entitlements are to be done online, and the deadline for applications is Tuesday 15 May 2018.

The Minister commented

“with less than a week to go before the deadline of 15 May, I would like to remind all farmers who have yet to apply online for the BPS to do so at the earliest possible date. While some 100,000 farmers have already lodged their online applications, it is important that all outstanding applications are made as soon as possible.”

Farmers applying online for the first time in 2018 should be aware that there are two stages in the process – they must first register on www.agfood.ie and when they receive their registration details in the post they must then log on and actually make their BPS application. With the 15 May deadline approaching farmers should be aware of this process, and register / make their application as soon as possible. The Minister commented “I would particularly urge the small number of farmers who have yet to register for www.agfood.ie to do so as soon as possible in order to ensure they are in a position to then lodge their applications in advance of the 15 May deadline.”

The Department has put a range of supports in place for farmers this year to assist in the lodging of online applications. In the run up to the 15 May deadline, the following is of note:

• · Department officials will be available to sit down on a one to one basis with farmers in a number of locations in the coming days. Farmers will be able to make their applications there and then with assistance from a staff member from the Department. The details of these clinics are as follows:
• Wednesday 9 May from 9am to 3pm in the Great National South Court Hotel, Raheen Roundabout, Limerick
• Thursday 10 May from 9am to 3pm in the Longford Arms Hotel, 25 Main Street, Longford.
• Friday 11 May from 9am to 3pm in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Kilcoman Road, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
• Monday 14 May from 9.30am to 5.30 pm in the DAFM offices in Farnham Road, Cavan.
• Tuesday 15 May from 9.30am to 5.30pm in the DAFM offices Derryhallagh, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim.

In addition to these arrangements, Department staff have been assisting farmers in making their BPS and Transfer of Entitlements applications in our Portlaoise offices in recent weeks. This service will be available for extended hours in the run up to the May 15 deadline in the Department’s Offices in Government Offices, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise. Farmers can call in to Government Offices in Portlaoise

• Between 9 am and 5.30 pm any working day this week. 
• Between 9.30 am and 5pm on Saturday 12 May and Sunday 13 May
• Between 9am and 9pm on Monday 14 May
• Between 9 am and 12 midnight on Tuesday 15 May.

The Department’s phone Helpdesks will also be available for these same extended hours in the run up to the deadline. For assistance on registering for www.agfood.ie as a first step in making an online application, farmers can contact the AgFood Registration Helpdesk on 0761 064424. They can also contact this phone number if they require assistance to register an agricultural consultant or Teagasc adviser to apply on your behalf.

For assistance on completing applications online, farmers can contact the BPS Application Queries Helpdesk on 0761 064420.

BPS ONLINE CLINIC REQUIREMENTS
What do I need to bring if I am attending a BPS online clinic?
If you are not yet registered please do so now on www.agfood.ie OR if you cannot register on www.agfood.ie bring your Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) with you.

If you have already registered, bring along your 7 digit Personal Access Code (PAC) and login details (username & password) you set up when you registered. You should also bring with you:

• Your 2018 BPS Pack (Land Summary and Maps) 
• A valid form of Photo ID