Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 10

Ceisteanna — Questions. Written Answers. - Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme.

Enda Kenny

Question:

27 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason it is not proposed to leave milk gallonage in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo in the region in which this gallonage was originally created; in the context of the Government's response to the bishops' document A Crusade for Survival and the setting up of a task force to implement its recommendations, his views on whether this milk gallonage should be transferred out of the region in question with a resultant loss of income to the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to milk quota sold by the suppliers concerned to their milk purchaser for re-allocation to other suppliers under a milk quota restructuring scheme. Such schemes in Ireland are operated at the level of the milk purchaser. Consequently any quota which is sold by outgoing suppliers attached to a particular milk purchaser is re-allocated to that purchaser's other milk suppliers. The re-allocation, however, is made in accordance with predetermined priorities with, for example, top priority being given to suppliers with quotas from zero to 30,000 gallons.

The surrender quota to which the Deputy refers would, therefore, be available for re-allocation to eligible suppliers, according to priority, attached to that purchaser irrespective of their location. Apart from deciding the priority rules and enforcing their proper application, my Department or I have no role in the re-allocation of such surrendered quota.