asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to reports that Ballyhaise Agriculture College, County Cavan, has been prevented from transferring the substantial milk supply of its 80 cow herd to Killeshandra Co-op where an extra 4p per gallon is being paid; his policy on such transfers by institutions under the control of his Department, especially in view of the need for maximum earnings because of the cutbacks curtailing their activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Milk Quotas.
22.
The college in question is under the control of ACOT. Decisions in relation to the transfer of the milk quota involved are a matter for that organisation.
25.
andMr. Enright asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that dairy farmers who have exceeded their quota by as little as one gallon of milk are being deprived of farm improvement grants; his views on whether this is a deterrent to the proper control of silage effluent and slurry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the provisions of EC Regulation 797/85, on which the farm improvement programme is based, grant-aid for dairy investment is payable only where an applicant's permanent milk quota is respected. Each applicant for acceptance into the farm improvement programme undertakes to observe all the programme conditions one of which is that aid shall not be granted for investments related to milk production which would result in the permanent quota being exceeded. Furthermore, in drawing up farm plans which include provision for dairy investment, ACOT ensures that each participant in the programme is made fully aware of the necessity not to exceed the allocated milk quota. It is the responsibility of each dairy farmer who applies for grant-aid for dairy investment under the FIP to ensure that his milk production for each year of his farm plan is within the permanent milk quota allocated to him, thus safeguarding his eligibility for grant-aid for his dairy projects.
Under EC rules it is not open to me to give grant-aid for storage facilities for silage effluent and slurry to dairy farmers who increase milk production beyond the quota limits.