€12 million in payments to Leitrim farmers this week

3,187 farmers in Co. Leitrim will receive more than €12.18 million in farm payments this week.

Almost €58.9 million is being paid to farmers across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal as advance payments commence under the 2026 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) schemes.

3,524 farmers in Sligo will receive more than €14.06 million and €32.68 million is being paid to 7,694 farmers in Donegal. Minister Harkin said the payments represented vital recognition of the work farmers do and the contribution they make to their local communities and the wider economy.

“These payments are money earned by farmers through the work they do every day. Farming is demanding work, requiring long hours, significant investment and a commitment to maintaining our land, producing food and sustaining rural communities,” she stated.

“It is important that we explain clearly how the model works. Under the Common Agricultural Policy, direct payments are designed to underpin farm incomes and help ensure that farming remains viable and sustainable.

“This is not simply money being handed out. It is a core part of the system that recognises the work farmers undertake and the wider benefits that farming delivers for society,” Minister Harkin added.

The Minister went on to say that the direct payments also help rural Ireland.

“Farmers face considerable pressures from rising costs, market uncertainty and the challenges of maintaining family farms for the next generation. These payments provide important support for farm families and help sustain the economic and social fabric of rural Ireland,” she commented.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of the payments to farmers in Sligo and Leitrim. “Over €14 million is being paid to farmers in Sligo, with a further €12.18 million going to farmers in Leitrim. These are substantial sums for our local farming communities and reflect the importance of direct payments to the continued viability of family farms across both counties.

“Smaller and medium-sized farms are particularly important to the character of our rural communities. The redistributive element of the CAP, through CRISS, is specifically designed to direct support towards smaller and medium-sized farms, helping to maintain a fairer distribution of funding,” the Minister stated.

Minister Harkin said the commencement of payments this week, following delays arising from public sector industrial action, was an important development for farm families. “Farmers have been waiting for these payments, and it is important that the funds can now begin to reach farm families. Timely payments matter because farmers have bills to pay, inputs to purchase and businesses to keep running.

“I will continue to highlight the importance of a properly supported agricultural sector. Supporting farmers means supporting food production, rural employment, local businesses and the future of our communities in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal,” she stated.