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Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

30 schemes tracked

Eco-scheme

The Eco-Scheme is a voluntary annual CAP payment, introduced for the first time under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, that rewards all active farmers for undertaking agricultural practices beneficial to climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity. Farmers choose from 8 agricultural practices (3 with an enhanced option) and must deliver at least two practices, or one enhanced option, to qualify, with payment made on all eligible hectares covered by the commitments undertaken.

Grant range
€60 - €65 per hectare
Funding level
100%
Support type
Grant
Last checked
3 Sept 2026
Start this application on Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's website (opens in a new tab)

About this scheme

Introduced for the first time under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, the Eco-Scheme is a voluntary annual payment open to all active farmers, from all farming sectors and intensity levels, to reward practices that benefit climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity. There are 8 agricultural practices to choose from, 3 of which have an enhanced option; a farmer must deliver at least two practices, or one enhanced option, to qualify for payment. Payment is made annually on all eligible hectares covered, at a rate likely to be in the region of €60-€65 per hectare depending on uptake, drawn from a total national financial allocation of €297 million per annum. Farmers can opt in or out, and change which practices they undertake, on a yearly basis, and Payment Entitlements are not required to apply. The Eco-Scheme is applied for at the same time as the BISS application via agfood.ie, either directly or through a FAS approved advisor.

Who can apply

  • All active farmers are eligible to apply
  • Must deliver at least 2 of the 8 available agricultural practices, or 1 enhanced option (3 of the 8 practices have an enhanced option), to qualify for payment
  • Scheme is voluntary and annual: farmers may opt in or out each year, and may change which practices they undertake each year
  • Payment Entitlements are not required to apply for the Eco-Scheme

How to apply

  1. Apply for the Eco-Scheme at the same time as your Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application — it is not a separate application, and no Payment Entitlements are required.
  2. Submit the application yourself, or employ a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved advisor to submit it on your behalf.
  3. Apply online by logging in or registering at agfood.ie.
  4. Submit by the scheme closing date (stated on the page as midnight, 29 May 2023).
  5. If your login or password has expired, contact the Department's Agfood Online Services Helpdesk to renew it.