Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 3

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Brian Cowen

Question:

535 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he will take for dairy farmers denied their usual annual leased quota from co-ops in 1995 due to the effect of private quota levying; if his attention has been drawn to the number of small and medium-sized dairy farmers who have exceeded their own quota and the superlevy payments being imposed on these farmers from now to April; the circumstances under which farmers may appeal under the milk quota appeals tribunal; and if he will make a statement outlining the scale and nature of this problem; the number of farmers affected; and the proposals, if any, he has to remedy this matter. [19197/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Demand by producers for additional milk quota in 1995-96 was greater than in previous years because of the increased level of milk production since the beginning of the quota year in April and the fact that a superlevy liability had been incurred in the 1994-95 year. This situation was reflected in the willingness of producers to pay a higher price for private landquota leasing arrangements, thereby reducing the amount of quota offered into the temporary leasing scheme.

The 10 per cent clawback measure on leases of less than three years, which I introduced in October 1995, will encourage quota-holders who do not require all or part of their quota on a short-term basis to avail of the temporary leasing scheme. This of itself will have contributed to the amount of quota offered under the third phase of the temporary leasing scheme which, in turn, will benefit small and medium-sized producers.

The milk quota appeals tribunal deals on an ongoing basis with producers for whom the application of the milk quota system is causing hardship. Since its establishment the tribunal has allocated 3.5 million gallons milk quota to over 3,000 applicants. Application forms for the tribunal are available from the milk policy division of my Department.