Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Donal Moynihan

Question:

136 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, there are to facilitate farmers in acquiring suckler cow quotas in view of the crisis in the dairying industry which is forcing farmers to change their systems of farming from dairying to suckler. [10073/97]

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

EU Regulation 805/68 allows for the payment of suckler cow premium to small scale milk producers whose certified milk quota does not exceed 25,638 gallons or 120,000 kgs.

The suckler cow premium national reserve also allows for small scale milk producers, within certain income limits, to apply for additional quota from the reserve. Applications for the 1997 reserve closed some months ago and producers may submit applications for the 1998 reserve later in the year.

It is also open to small scale milk producers to purchase suckler cow quota commercially.