The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has issued a reminder to farmers on the closing date for applications for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).

The closing date for the 2026 BISS is just over two weeks away, with the deadline falling on midnight of Friday, May 15.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has urged farmers to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Minister Heydon said: "It is critical that farmers ensure that their BISS application is submitted on time. Supports are available through in person clinics next week and online.

The minister said that extended opening hours will operate at the department's office in Portlaoise if farmers wish to visit and discuss their application with staff from the department.

The May 15 deadline is also the deadline for the related submission of applications for other measures, including the Complimentary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF), the Eco Scheme, Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme, and for transfers of entitlements.

The department has been running in-person clinics in recent weeks to assist farmers in making their applications.

There are further clinics scheduled for next week:

May 5 - Ard Rí House Hotel, Tuam, Co. Galway (10:00a.m to 4:30p.m);
May 6 - Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork (10:00a.m to 4:30p.m);
May 7 - Randles Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry (10:00a.m to 4:30p.m).

Farmers can also contact the department's direct payments helpdesk.

These phonelines will be open for extended opening hours in the run up to the application deadline:

Between 9:15a.m and 5:00p.m on May 9 and May 10 (which is a weekend);
Between 9:15a.m and 9:00p.m from May 11 to May 14;
Between 9:15a.m and midnight on May 15, which is the closing date.

The department said that its staff will also be available to assist at the public counter in the department office in Portlaoise during those extended hours.

Helpdesk phonelines and the public counter in Portlaoise will be closed for lunch between 12:45p.m and 2:00p.m on all dates.

Farmers must apply for BISS and other area-based payments using the department's online facility MyAgFood.