NPWS Farm Plan Scheme

The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is a voluntary agri-environment scheme that pays farmers and landowners to protect, restore, or improve important wildlife habitats and species, especially in areas of high conservation value¹, such as

• Natura 2000 sites
  • Special Areas of Conservation (SACs),
  • Special Protected Areas (SPAs),
• Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) and,
• High Nature Value (HNV) farmland.

It supports farmers to go beyond basic legal agri-requirements to deliver targeted biodiversity outcomes. The scheme also trials and develops tailor-made conservation measures², which may later inform national agri-environment schemes, thereby contributing to Ireland’s requirements under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives³.

The scheme is run by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), through its Agri-Ecology Unit, with support from regional NPWS staff and approved farm planners.

¹ SACs, SPAs, & NHAs - Protected Sites in Ireland | National Parks & Wildlife Service; High Value Farmland.
² Conservation measures are specific, planned actions, techniques, or management strategies designed to protect, maintain, or restore biodiversity, and ecosystems.
³ The Birds (2009/147/EC) and Habitats (92/43/EEC) Directives are the core European Union legislation for biodiversity conservation, establishing the "Natura 2000" network of protected areas. Birds Directive - Directive - 2009/147 - EN - Birds Directive - EUR-Lex; Habitats Directive - Directive - 92/43 - EN - Habitats Directive - EUR-Lex.

The Farm Plan Scheme is aimed at farmers and landowners who are interested in working with NPWS in order to conserve, enhance, and restore habitats and species on privately managed land. This can be done through site-specific (“bespoke”) plans for results based grazing management and other once-off actions eg. Fencing, scrub removal or pond creation among some of the options.

You can apply if you:

• Are 18 years or older,
• Manage land in the Republic of Ireland,
• Can prove ownership or long-term control of the land (ownership, long-term lease, or landowner consent),
• Are willing to enter a contract (normally 5 years).

No. The applicant does not need to be a farmer. Any land manager with a genuine conservation proposal can be eligible, subject to selection and scheme rules.

The NPWS Farm Plan is document drafted specifically for your farm/land, which includes a breakdown of conservation measures and payment rates related to scoring and supporting actions (eg. fencing, hedging, scrub clearance etc.).

The planner:

• Designs the plan with you
• Acts as liaison with NPWS
• Certifies annual compliance

NPWS Farm Plans typically run for a duration of five years. Eligibility for a second or follow on contract depends on plan performance and NPWS approval. At the end of five years, the plan’s performance overall will be reviewed. Depending on the results and subject to funding, the plan may either be terminated or potentially brought on board for another five years.

As all NPWS Farm plans are tailored to each farm, payments to participants will vary. They can range from €1,000 to €30,000.

Payment amounts depend on the amount of land being entered in the scheme, along with the nature and extent of conservation measures to be carried out. Amounts received may vary year to year depending on the scores and actions/measures completed.

Payments are made on or after the anniversary of the plan start date (not on submission of the application to join scheme). Generally, one payment is issued per annum. No advance payments are permitted.

Your assigned NPWS Farm Planner is your (first/main) point of contact. They should be able to answer any queries you may have on your NPWS Farm Plan.

Yes. A plan can be under two or more names. For example, land may be owned jointly or one person may own it and the other may be carrying out the actions. This should be indicated on the application form.

All lands managed by the applicant must be included in the plan documentation even though payments are only linked to conservation actions in the target are of high biodiversity value.

NPWS Agri Ecology Unit will appoint and contract the Farm Planner. The costs of the Farm Planner for the duration of the 5-year plan will be covered by NPWS. There is no cost to the participant. Please note, the NPWS Farm Planner is not a replacement for your own Agricultural Advisor who deals with Department of Agricultural Food & the Marine (DAFM) Schemes and returns.

Your assigned NPWS Farm Planner is responsible for drafting your Farm Plan and carrying out compliance checks each year. They are your main point of contact for questions relating to your NPWS Farm Plan and should be able to answer any questions you may have. They will either direct you to or contact the relevant NPWS staff if the query is outside of their remit. NPWS Farm planners must support participants, maintain professional standards, and ensure plans are correct and possible.

Certain activities on designated lands within the Farm Plan may require prior consent to be sought from NPWS staff. Information on Activities requiring consent (ARCs)/Notifiable actions for SACs and SPAs can be found in the relevant Statutory Instrument⁴ protecting the specific site (see Protected Sites in Ireland | National Parks & Wildlife Service). The participant must notify NPWS Agri-Ecology Unit before carrying out any actions that could impact on protected habitats or species.

⁴ A statutory instrument (SI) in Ireland is a form of delegated or secondary legislation, such as an order, regulation, rule, or bye-law, made by a government Minister or authorized body rather than directly by the Oireachtas. Authorized by a parent Act, SIs handle detailed administrative matters, such as implementing EU directives, and typically take effect upon a Minister's signature.

Eligibility is based on the ecological value and potential of your land:

• Tier 1 – Land under designation (e.g., SAC, SPA, NHA)
• Tier 2 – Land outside designation but supporting species or habitats under threat
• Tier 3 – Land with potential for ecological research or conservation value.

Payments are not made on:

• Short-term rented land (under 5 years remaining) (unless special approval is given)
• Forestry land (including grant-aided forestry)
• Roads, yards, tarmac areas
• Active quarries, turbary, golf courses, or sports fields
• Land already paid for under another scheme for the same actions
• Lakes or water bodies (unless central to the plan)

No. NPWS reserves the right to choose plans where conservation need is greatest, and to reject plans where objectives won’t be achieved or where costs outweigh biodiversity benefit.

No. Designation alone does not guarantee entry into the scheme. The scheme supports actions that go above legal requirements. NPWS decides which applications are accepted based on: Conservation value, Additionality (benefits above existing schemes), Availability of funding, Suitability of measures.

• Participation in other schemes is allowed, but double funding is strictly prohibited.
• ACRES Co-Operation (CP) is not compatible with the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme.

Please check this and discuss with your own Agricultural Advisor and the assigned Farm Planner. This may delay or stop payments.

You will need to submit the following documents/information:

• Herd number (or equivalent other animal or Non-animal registration number) Land folio number/s can be obtained from Tailte Éireann.
• BISS (Basic Income Sustainability Support) application and maps currently active for the year you are applying in.
• Outline of the proposed area to be included in the plan.
• Photo ID with signature (e.g., passport or driver’s licence) to confirm applicant.

A herd number is a unique identification code issued by the Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to a specific farm or land unit, primarily for disease monitoring, animal health, and traceability purposes. It is mandatory for farmers holding cattle, sheep, goats, or pigs in Ireland, and is necessary to access farming grants, schemes, and to move animals. This number is used for fulfilling our mandatory reporting obligations to the EU for funding received from the Exchequer under State Aid Rules.

In order to be able to apply for the BISS scheme (under DAFM), you need a herd number. The BISS documentation and herd number (or equivalent) is a mandatory requirement of the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme.

A Herd number (or equivalent) can be applied for in your local Regional Veterinary Office. See link below for further details:

Apply for a flock or herd number

Folio numbers are required to be provided to:

• Confirm land ownership –
• Identify legal boundaries
• Verify eligibility
• Prevent overlapping or double claims
• as proof of full ownership and that the person is entitled to farm/manage the land, which is being proposed to be entered into the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme to receive grant funding. Folio maps should correspond to the land being potentially included in the scheme.

Folio numbers or documents can be obtained from Tailte Éireann.

This must be indicated on the application form.

A lease or an NPWSd form (depending on the owner) as above would be required.

A Registry of Deeds or some other form of ownership paperwork (eg Will) would need to be supplied to show entitlement or inheritance by owner.

If the owner has applied to take ownership/title of the land but the process of probate has not been completed, we may be able to view the application or request a copy of the application sent to Tailte Éireann.

A copy of BISS application is required to confirm that your herd number is linked to the land, and to check that no other herd number is currently claiming on the land.

You will need to contact either an Agricultural Advisor on Department of Agriculture’s approved list (Farm Advisory System (FAS)) or contact DAFM directly to advise on how to apply to their scheme.

Yes, as a farm Plan Participant, you will be required to have the following paperwork and details ready in advance of your assigned planners farm plan annual compliance check visit:

• Current BISS Application and Maps.
• Receipts for works undertaken or items bought in the year.
• Completed EFT⁵ Mandate form with up to date bank details. This typically is a once off request as it is used for supplier set up on the Departments accounting system at the start of the farm plan. However, if your bank details have changed from the previous year, then a new EFT will be required in order to update system.
• TCAN (Tax Clearance Access Number) – Please contact Revenie.ie or your accountant for the active number as it is changed annually.

Your planner is required to submit the following forms along with the above:

• Signed/ approved NPWSe (payment request) and NPWSg (compliance report)
• Relevant Scorecards

You will need to contact your assigned NPWS planner to discuss and coordinate this.

Once your NPWS Farm Planner has visited your farm, completed the annual compliance visit, compliance report and submitted the payment claim, scorecards and other required paperwork to Agri-Ecology Unit, your payment will then be processed. Payments are issued directly to your bank account.

⁵ EFT – Electronic Fund Transfer.

This must be indicated on the application form.

A minimum 5 year lease is required if the person named on the folio is not a family member. The lease should be either certified by a solicitor or approved NPWS Farm Planner. Details that are required on the lease are:

• Folio number/s,
• An outline map/s of the leased land,
• The landowner’s name and signature,
• The lessees’ name and signature,
• Duration of lease with start and end dates.

This must be indicated on the application form.

A minimum 5 year NPWSd Consent of a Family Member Form is required if the person/second person named on the folio is a family member (eg spouse). Details that are required on the NPWSd are:

• Folio number/s,
• An outline map/s of the leased land,
• The landowner/family member/s name and signature,
• The potential participants name and signature,
• Duration of agreement with start and end dates.

Yes, if:

• The arrangement is declared,
• Stocking rates include those animals,
• You remain responsible for management and compliance,
• The NPWSc form is completed and signed.

Yes. A minimum of 10% of plans are selected each year for audit to assess plan performance and compliance. Poor performing plans may be withdrawn from the scheme or requested to make immediate improvements.

NPWS will select an external independent auditor to audit your farm. The auditor will contact you and your NPWS Farm Planner directly with a time and date for your audit. Please note that Participants must allow access to land and records when requested. Completed audit reports will be sent to NPWS Agri-Ecology Unit, the Assigned Farm Planner and the Participant. Recommendations for the audit will need to be taken on board to improve the performance of the plan.

If a participant fails to meet plan requirements, NPWS may apply deductions to payments. There is an appeals process available for disputes regarding deductions or decisions. This decision will be made by the Wildlife Inspector in Agri Ecology Unit.

You must inform NPWS if there are:

• Changes in land area,
• Changes in land use,
• New leases or loss of land,
• Forestry planting proposals.

Major changes require a formal plan amendment. Minor changes are handled through plan updates. All changes must be approved by NPWS before starting further work related to the farm plan. Your NPWS appointed Farm Planner must apply for these potential changes in writing. Unapproved changes may result in loss of payment.

If you sell the whole of the land which is in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, your NPWS Farm plan will be terminated. Participants would be paid what they are owed at the time of leaving the scheme. If the new owners would like to potentially continue to be part of the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, they should contact NPWS Agri-Ecology Unit to discuss what options there may be. Entry into the scheme would be at the discretion of NPWS.

Prior to selling land, you must contact NPWS Agri-Ecology Unit to discuss what options there may be depending on the block of land being lost. Your NPWS Farm Plan may need to be updated and payments reduced or possibly the plan cancelled due to loss of land that contained the biodiversity factor.

Adding land to an NPWS Farm Plan requires a review of the original plan by your planner and approval from the NPWS Agri Ecology Unit.

The participant would need to inform NPWS Agri-Ecology Unit in writing of their decision to leave the Farm Plan Scheme. If they are the full or joint land owner, they will need to state that they are happy for the other participant to continue in the scheme. Land documentation (lease/ NPWSd) relating to the remaining participant may need to be updated. Payments would issue to the remaining participant. The name of the participant who wants to leave will be removed from the Plan.

The NPWS Farm Planner should be notified if a participant passes away. It would be up to the benefactor to decide if they would like to keep the farm plan in the Scheme. Any payments due until then would be paid to the estate of the participant until probate has been settled.

Check the NPWS Farm Plan scheme webpage for when the scheme is open to new applicants.

When the scheme is not open for applicants, you can expression your interest in applying for the scheme when open, through completing an Expression of Interest (EOI) Form, so the Agri-Ecology unit can contact you when the call for applications opens.

For further information on any of the above areas, please see Terms and Conditions.