Vol. 513 No. 6
205 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when decisions will be made regarding the distribution of the five million gallons available to young milk producers meeting certain criteria; the number of applications submitted to his Department for benefit under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3053/00]
The closing date for receipt by milk purchasers of applications under the scheme for the allocation of five million gallons of additional quota to younger dairy farmers with a milk quota of less than 35,000 gallons is 8 February 2000. It is therefore not possible at this stage to say how many applications my Department will receive. The milk purchasers will submit the completed application forms in respect of all eligible applicants to my Department. The applications will be processed in my Department as quickly as possible and applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications. The quota will be available to successful applicants with effect from the 2000-01 milk quota year.
206 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if an allocation of additional milk quota will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is an applicant under the additional quota for younger farmers arising from the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; if he will acknowledge that, notwithstanding the absence of the necessary educational qualification, this applicant's continued existence in farming is dependent on securing additional milk quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3054/00]
The eligibility criteria for the allocation to producers of the additional 20.5 million gallons of milk quota negotiated under agenda 2000 were set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 9 December 1999. It was necessary to set strict eligibility criteria for the allocation of the extra quota in order to maximise its effect. On the basis of the information available to my Department, the person named does not meet all of the eligibility criteria for an allocation from the five million gallons set aside for younger dairy farmers.
