Vol. 479 No. 2
351 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will reconsider the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is urgently in need of a cow suckler quota in view of the fact that his Department did not issue the forms in respect of this quota to this person who has now been told that they are not available. [12777/97]
Farmers seeking allocations of quota from the 1997 national reserve were invited to submit applications last December and January. The reserve was widely advertised in the national and farming press at the time and the original closing date for receiving applications was 17 January 1997. This date was extended to 31 January 1997 and that extension also was widely advertised.
Applications cannot be accepted at this stage as all the available quota has been distributed.
The onus was on intending applicants for additional quota to request an application form, either directly from the quota section in Castlebar or from any local office of the Department, and to ensure that the application was submitted before the closing date. 8,456 farmers applied for quota from the reserve.
The person named may lease quota, before he applies for the 1997 suckler cow premium scheme. Leasing forms are available, on request, from the quota section in Castlebar or from any local office of the Department.
