35 farmers in Kerry were given financial penalties last year due to illegal burning of land.
The figures were released by the Department of Agriculture.
To qualify for the Basic Payment Scheme, applicants must have an eligible hectare of land in respect of each entitlement claimed.
If land is burned in the closed period from March 1st to August 31st it is not eligible for payment.
The Department of Agriculture says it actively investigates incidents of illegal burning using satellite imagery; where burned land is claimed under a BPS application it is considered an overclaim and a penalty or reduction may apply.
Last year, 67 Kerry farmers saw their eligible land reduced due to burning that happened in the closed season.
This resulted in financial reductions or penalties in BPS for 35 farmers totalling €42,697.
In 2019, 28 farmers received a deduction in their eligible land for illegal burning; 16 of those farmers were given penalties totalling €20,441.
The Department of Agriculture says prosecution of illegal burning is not a matter for it and that the figures for penalties may include other errors that may not be related to burning.
