asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an increase in milk quota will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Written Answers. - Milk Quota.
61.
I understand that the producer referred to has a quota of just over 16,000 gallons. Within the limited degree of flexibility available to me under the Community regulations, I have tried to assist farmers with small quotas by providing that the first priority category of farmers for the allocation of quotas in the arrangements for both the restructuring scheme, which I negotiated as part of last year's price package, and the distribution of flexi-milk, are producers whose quotas do not exceed 25,000 gallons.
I have also requested the quota review group which I set up recently to examine whether we can further assist the special category farmers, including small quota holders, who have been particularly disadvantaged by the quota system. The group are due to report to me in the autumn and I will consider what further action I can take at that stage.