Tony Killeen
Question:883 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to support smaller milk producers seriously affected by the milk super levy crisis. [15761/96]
Written Answers. - Milk Levies and Schemes.
Joe Walsh
Question:884 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the estimated number of gallons of milk available for distribution under the temporary milk quota leasing scheme for the milk years 1995/1996 and 1996/1997. [15762/96]
Joe Walsh
Question:885 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused to small milk producers due to the alterations made to the temporary milk quota leasing scheme; and if he will give an estimate of the amount of milk that remains to be distributed under this scheme. [15763/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 883, 884 and 885 together.
The milk quota system as implemented in Ireland is heavily biased in favour of small scale milk producers. Priority is given to such producers in the end of year reallocation of unused quota, in quota restructuring and temporary leasing schemes. Furthermore, a subsidy of between £0.40-£0.50 per gallon will shortly be available to a certain category of small scale producers towards the purchase of milk quota under this year's restructuring scheme. This follows the operation of a similar scheme in each of the past two years.
The estimated quantity of quota allocated under all stages of the 1995-96 temporary leasing scheme was 68.4 million gallons. The quantity allocated under the first stage of the 1996-97 scheme was 41.6 million gallons. There are two further stages to be operated in this year's temporary leasing scheme and it is not possible at this stage to estimate the quantity that will become available for allocation during these stages of the scheme.
In relation to operation of this year's scheme I have already announced that under the second stage of the scheme total priority will be given to smaller scale producers who have depended on temporary leasing in previous years. I have also arranged that the outcome of the second stage will be reviewed immediately after its completion in order to assess the impact of its operation and to make any adjustments which may be appropriate.