Billy Timmins
Question:233 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position with regard to the milk quota of persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [21443/99]
Written Answers. - Milk Quota.
Regulation 4(4) of the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations, 1995, provides that in the case of a sale of land to which milk quota attaches, where that sale takes place after the 31 March 1994, the milk quota so acquired shall remain attached to such land until the 31 March 2000. I understand that the persons named purchased the lands in question on 21 March 1995, therefore under the current milk quota regulations, if the lands are transferred before 31 March 2000 that the milk quota also transfers.
The position in relation to milk quota clawback is that apart from certain specified exceptions including family transactions, inheritance, renewal of leases and certain sales clawback is applied at the rate of 20 per cent on all leases and sales. All milk quota becoming available through the application of the clawback measure is added to the national reserve. The Deputy will be aware that on 13 October I announced that with effect from 1 April 2000 I propose to make changes in the rules relating to quota transfers. Those changes would affect cases such as the one referred to.