asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make representations to the EC to increase substantially the milk quotas for farmers with less than (a) 5,000 (b) 10,000 (c) 15,000 and (d) 25,000 gallons respectively, who reside in disadvantaged areas.
Written Answers. - Milk Quotas.
70.
If negotiations for an increase in member states' quotas were to take place, then I would be seeking the most favourable possible terms for Irish producers including those who reside in disadvantged areas.
I am, of course, aware of the special difficulties facing small-scale producers and I succeeded, last year, in getting the agreement of the EC Concil for the introduction of a milk quota restructuring scheme. Under that scheme, quotas may be bought up from producers wishing to cease milk production and re-allocated, at the same price, to producers who need additional quotas. This scheme gives specific priority to small producers.