Michael Ring
Question:347 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the changes made regarding the allocation of sheep quota from the national reserve, with particular reference to commonage holders. [24590/00]
Written Answers. - Sheep Quota.
When criteria for the distribution of ewe premium quota from the 2001 national reserve were being considered, it was estimated that there would be sufficient quota available to satisfy the requirements of all prospective applicants.
The application procedure for the year 2001 national reserve was, therefore, simplified and no income limits or livestock unit criteria were applied. This simplification resulted in an increase in the number of applicants from 1,854 for the 2000 reserve to 5,676 for the 2001 reserve and 4,806 of these have recently been allocated 188,056 premium rights.
As was the case in 1999 and 2000, no extra quota rights will be allocated to farmers with commonage land in the six western counties. Individual commonage framework plans for all commonages are being drawn up by my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. When these individual commonage framework plans are implemented, stocking levels on individual REPS plans will be adjusted in accordance with the destocking level, if any, as set out in the relevant commonage framework plan.