Mayo TD welcomes over €40 million in funding to Mayo farmers
The 2026 BISS and CRISS advance payments are being issued at an increased rate of 75 percent with payments expected to appear in farmers’ bank accounts over the coming days
Deputy Keira Keogh TD has welcomed confirmation that over €40.3 million in advance payments under the 2026 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) will issue to 10,097 farmers across County Mayo, beginning today, Thursday, October 22.
The payments form part of a national allocation of over €551 million to 110,089 farmers, announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Keogh said “I am delighted to see over €40 million being paid to more than 10,000 farmers across County Mayo. This is a significant and much-needed financial boost for our farming families and the wider rural economy. I met with IFA members from Mayo in Dublin yesterday to discuss their concerns regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and I know these payments are vital for farmers. I fully appreciate the concerns that have been raised with me regarding the delay in issuing payments, and I am pleased that a resolution has now been reached.”
Deputy Keogh also acknowledged the importance of ensuring that payments reach farmers as quickly as possible, particularly given the challenges facing the agricultural sector. “The six-day delay in payments has understandably caused frustration and concern among farmers.
“I welcome the work undertaken by Minister Heydon to resolve the issue and ensure that these vital supports can now be delivered. For many farm families in Mayo, these payments are an essential part of managing their finances, meeting day-to-day costs and planning for the months ahead. They also provide an important injection of money into local businesses and communities throughout the county.”
The 2026 BISS and CRISS advance payments are being issued at an increased rate of 75 percent with payments expected to appear in farmers’ bank accounts over the coming days. Nationally, 94 percent of cleared cases have now been paid, which is in line with the 90 percent target set out under the Farmers’ Charter.
Deputy Keogh added: “I welcome the increased advance payment rate of this year, and I would encourage any farmers who have outstanding documentation requests from the Department to respond as quickly as possible to avoid further delays. I will continue to engage with farmers and farming organisations across Mayo to ensure their concerns are heard, particularly in relation to the future of CAP and the need to protect family farming.
“ Our farmers make an enormous contribution to Mayo’s economy, our rural communities and our way of life. They are the backbone of so many communities throughout Mayo, and these payments provide essential financial support to farmers who are dealing with rising costs and ongoing pressures. It is essential that they receive the support and certainty they need to continue farming into the future.”
The BISS and CRISS payments follow the issuing of payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme in September and the ECO Scheme last week. Together, these schemes have delivered over €937 million in area-based payments nationally over the past month. Payments under the ANC and ECO schemes are also continuing as further applications are cleared.
Information for farmers
Farmers with queries regarding their BISS or ANC payments can contact the Department of Agriculture’s Direct Payments Helpdesk on 057 8674422 or submit queries online through www.myagfood.ie.