• The information provided by the SME will be shared with the SBCI (and its authorised agents) and the DAFM
• Under EU Regulation the DAFM has to publish information on the SME on its website
Who can apply?
Who cannot apply
Eligibility Criteria
Micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are active in the primary agricultural sector in ROI and meet the eligibility criteria. SMEs are defined by the Standard European Union (EU) definition (Commission Regulation 2003/361/EC) as those who:
- have fewer than 250 employees
- have a turnover €50million or less (or €43m or less on their balance sheets)
- are independent and autonomous i.e. not part of a wider group of enterprises
- have less than 25% of their capital held by public bodies
- is established and operating in the Republic of Ireland
An SME that is:
- in financial difficulty (excluding short-term cashflow pressures caused by the current market conditions).
- is bankrupt or being wound up or having its affairs administered by the courts.
- in the last 5 years has entered into an arrangement with creditors, in the context of being bankrupt or wound-up or having its affairs administered by the courts.
- convicted of an offense concerning professional conduct by judgement, fraud, corruption, invovlement in a criminal organisation, money laundering or any other illegal activity where such illegal activity is detrimental to the European Union's financial interests.
- engaged in solely forestry, aquaculture or equine related activities.
Loans for the purchase of breeding stock are excluded.
The SME will also be required to declare that it meets one of the following conditions:
- is participating in an agri-environment scheme as part of a rural development programme or;
- is a member of a Board Bia Quality Assurance Scheme or are a certified member of a Quality Assurance scheme run by a co-operative, processor or producer representative body or;
- is a member of Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine ("DAFM") registered Farm Partnership or;
- has completed or is participating in the financial management elements of DAFM's Knowledge Transfer Programme or previous programmes such as BTAP (Beef Technology Adoption programme) and STAP (Sheep Technology Adoption Programme) or has a certificate (or other evidence) in relation to participation in Financial Training from Teagasc or another body relating to eligible agricultural sectors.