Department announces in-person clinics to help farmers with BISS and related schemes

Clinics will take place from 10am to 4.30pm to provide one-to-one support to help farmers with their online applications ahead of the May 15 closing date

There will be 16 in-person clinics nationwide to assist farms with online BISS applications. Picture: Noel Bennett

A series of in-person farmer clinics has been announced to assist farmers in making online scheme applications.

In total, 16 farmer clinics are scheduled to offer an opportunity for farmers to be helped with the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes.

All clinics will take place from 10am to 4.30 pm, and department staff will provide one-to-one support to assist farmers in submitting their scheme applications well in advance of the closing date of May 15.

Farmers planning to attend the clinics must bring details of their MyAgFood.ie account, ie the mobile phone used for login, and details of herd number, PPSN, etc. to verify their identity.

• Clare (Ennis) - The Woodstock Hotel – April 1, 2026.
• Cork (Macroom) - Castle Hotel – April 2, 2026.
• Tipperary (Carrick On Suir) - The Carraig Hotel – April 7, 2026.
• Galway (Ballinasloe) - The Shearwater – April 8, 2026.
• Mayo (Ballina) - Great National Hotel – April 9, 2026.
• Cavan - Hotel Kilmore – April 14, 2026.
• Donegal (Ballybofey)- Jackson's Hotel – April 15, 2026.
• Kerry (Tralee) - The Rose Hotel – April 16, 2026.
• Meath (Trim) - Knightsbrook Hotel – April 21, 2026.
• Limerick (Adare) - Woodlands Hotel – April 22, 2026.
• Leitrim (Carrick On Shannon) - The Landmark – April 28, 2026.
• Monaghan (Carrickmacross) - The Shirley Arms – April 29, 2026.
• Wexford (Gorey) - Ashdown Park Hotel – April 30, 2026.
• Galway (Tuam) - Ard Rí House Hotel – May 5, 2026.
• Cork (Mitchelstown) - Firgrove Hotel – May 6, 2026.
• Kerry (Killarney) - Randles Hotel – May 7, 2026.

Speaking on the clinics, minister for agriculture, Martin Heydon, said: “These clinics have been exceptionally popular in recent years and offer an opportunity for farmers to engage directly with officials from my department.

"We have excellent advisors to support farmers in making their BISS applications, but where farmers are not in a position to engage an advisor, the clinics are an excellent means of ensuring that the BISS application is submitted correctly and on time.” 

These clinics are particularly useful for farmers who do not have a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved advisor to assist them with their application.