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DAFM announces extension to closing date for the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS)

Press Release 16 June 2022

 

DAFM announces extension to closing date for the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS)

 

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has today announced a short extension to the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS). The Scheme will now close at midnight on Friday 24th June, 2022. It had been due to close at midnight this Friday 17th  June.

 

HEPS which opened earlier this month, will provide support in the form of a once-off payment to growers in the critically important Irish horticulture sector.

 

The subsectors at most risk and included under this Scheme include commercial growers in the glasshouse high-wire crops, field vegetable, mushroom and apple sectors. It is designed to ensure the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of these sectors.

 

The support measure which is worth €2.8 million is funded from Ireland’s allocation for exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors which have been impacted by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as announced by the European Commission on 23 March.

 

Applicants are reminded to familiarise themselves with the Scheme Terms & Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions which answer the most common queries which are available on the Department website. Completed Application forms and supporting documentation should be emailed to heps@agriculture.gov.ie by midnight Friday June 24th, 2022.

 

Note for Editors:

Eligibility criteria and other details are laid out in the term and conditions of the scheme which can be found here.

Payments to eligible growers will be made by 30 September 2022.

Queries regarding the Scheme should be directed to:

Phone:             01 5058886

E-mail:             HEPS@agriculture.gov.ie

ENDS