asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals he has to provide quotas for milk producers who were new entrants whose quota in the reference year was only a fraction of their present level of production; if he will consider introducing a milk quota purchase scheme so that such farmers who have fully co-operated with ACOT and the farm development services can obtain a livelihood in milk production; the advice his Department would give to such producers in order to ensure that they have a viable level of milk production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Milk Quotas.
572.
The arrangements which I announced in November last for producers with special difficulties under the super-levy system include provisions allowing co-operatives to give temporary allocations, additional to basic quota entitlements, to new entrants into milk production during the period 1 January 1983 to 21 May 1984. The Exchequer funds made available for the milk cessation scheme will be completely absorbed by the purchase of seven million gallons for the disease and other special category cases provided for in the Community regulations.