Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1996

Vol. 467 No. 7

Written Answers. - Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal.

Brian Cowen

Question:

357 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give a breakdown of the allocation of the 3.5 million gallons of milk to 3,000 applicants to the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal in terms of the number of producers who benefited from allocations whose milk quota before the allocation was less than 10,000 gallons, 20,000 gallons, 30,000 gallons, 40,000 gallons, 50,000 gallons, 60,000 gallons, 70,000 gallons, 80,000 gallons and more than 80,000 gallons; and the average allocation made in respect of each of the above categories. [13968/96]

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

The following is a breakdown of the allocations of milk quota to successful applicants to the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal:

Year	Number of successful applicants	Quantity — gallons allocated	Average allocation — gallons
1990-91	1,701	1,018,000	600
1991-92	164	324,000	1,975
1992-93	311	475,000	1,525
1993-94	365	709,000	1,940
1994-95	402	618,500	1,540
1995-96	550	918,900	1,670
Totals	3,493	4,063,400	1,160

The allocations to various categories of producers in the format requested are not available. However, allocations are only made to smaller scale producers with quotas under 30,000 gallons and the following criteria are also taken into account by the Tribunal in assessing applications: (i) size of holding; (ii) other farming enterprises; (iii) commitment to dairying; (iv) full utilisation of available quota; (v) off-farm income; (vi) age and successor; (vii) financial difficulties.