Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Willie Penrose

Question:

160 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be considered favourably for a milk quota allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18377/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Under the new rules on the milk quota regime which I introduced on 1 April this year, the main instrument for the transfer of milk quotas will be a milk quota restructuring scheme operated at milk purchaser level. The detailed rules for the milk quota restructuring scheme 2000 were published in notices nos. 94/1 and 94/3.

This year's milk quota restructuring scheme will cater, as a matter of priority, for those producers who had been dependent on temporary leasing over recent years and for those producers who were unable, for reasons outside their control, to renew existing land leases. Of the total pool available for sale under the restructuring scheme, 85% will be allocated to these categories. It is clear that these producers are the ones who would have been most affected in the current year as a result of the transition from one quota regime to another and it was, therefore, essential that they be given priority status. In arriving at this decision I took full account of the views of the milk quota review group. The rules for this year's restructuring scheme were tailored to deal with the particular situation which obtains in the current year and should not be regarded as a blueprint for future years.

The remaining 15% of the pool, plus any quota remaining unallocated after the entitlements of the special priority producers have been satisfied, will be allocated to all producers who applied for quota under the 2000 milk quota restructuring scheme. These allocations will be weighted in favour of producers in the small and medium size categories.

A milk quota temporary leasing scheme will also operate and the detailed rules on this will be announced later. The milk quota appeals tribunal will continue to examine applications for quota from the national reserve, including the special reserve of 0.5 million gallons set aside from the 20.5 million gallons allocated under Agenda 2000.

The Deputy will be aware that the milk quota appeals tribunal is a body established to consider applications for additional quota from producers who have suffered extreme hardship as a result of the introduction of the milk quota system. The tribunal has not as yet commenced examining applications for the 2000-01 milk quota year.