Vol. 404 No. 9
118 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if an additional milk quota has been allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick on the basis that the introduction of the super-levy system in 1984 has caused severe hardship in his case; the amount of the extra allocation, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand that the producer concerned was unsuccessful in his application for additional quota from the one million gallons reserve that I set aside for hardship cases. The scheme was oversubscribed consequently, only 1,500 or so of the 5,000 applicants under the scheme, were given additional quotas by the milk quota appeals tribunal, whom I appointed to allocate the reserve.
As the Deputy will be aware my concern under the quota system has been, where possible to allocate additional quotas to small scale producers and other dairy farmers who have suffered particular hardship. I have sought to assist them within the limited degree of flexibility available to me under the Community regulations. I have, for instance, provided that at the priority categories to be covered in the arrangements for the distribution of flexi milk, the restructuring scheme and the temporary leasing scheme, include such producers. I would suggest that the producer concerned should contact his co-operative or dairy regarding his possible entitlements in these matters.
