Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Michael Finucane

Question:

315 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick did not receive any of the allocation which was given to young farmers; if this applicant is being considered for any further allocation of milk quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24036/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

(Mr. Walsh): 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 Question No. 42 of 9 December 1999.

The person named made an application under the five million gallons scheme for younger dairy farmers with quotas of less than 35,000 gallons who demonstrated a commitment to dairying by filling their existing quota and acquiring additional quota.

On the basis of the information available to my Department the person named did not meet all of the eligibility criteria for this scheme and therefore did not receive an allocation.

I have set aside 500,000 gallons of the Agenda 2000 allocation for special cases arising out of the operation of the general distribution and the person named submitted an application under this scheme appealing the previous decision. The milk quota appeals tribunal will consider this case shortly and my Department will write to the person named setting out the decision.