Vol. 456 No. 6
173 Mr. P. Gallagher (Laoighis-Offaly) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the arrangements, if any, that exist to ensure that smaller milk producers get a fair chance to lease milk quota on a temporary basis; if his attention has been drawn to any abuses in the system; if his attention has been further drawn to those who may have milk leased in excess of quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14370/95]
In accordance with the arrangements for the distribution of milk quota under the temporary leasing scheme, first priority is given to smaller-scale milk producers with quota of less than 30,000 gallons. The operation of the temporary leasing scheme is dependant on the amount of quota made available to the co-operative or dairy for redistribution in any particular year, thus determining the extent to which producers' requirements can be met. Overall the scheme has been very successful in directing available quota to the smaller-scale producers and I am not aware of any abuses in this area.
