Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 4

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Beverley Flynn

Question:

118 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the criteria which were used when selecting the successful applicants in the recent allocation of additional milk quotas from the national reserve. [9259/01]

The Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal was established to consider applications for additional quota from producers who have suffered extreme hardship as a result of the introduction of the milk quota system. In assessing these applications, the tribunal takes account of the following factors:

(i)current quota size;

(ii)off-farm income and/or other farm enterprises;

(iii)size of holding;

(iv)family circumstances, including succession;

(v)commitment to dairying;

(vi)financial problems and

(vii)butterfat representative level.

The tribunal also considers applications for temporary milk quota allocations on animal disease grounds. In assessing these applications, the tribunal takes account of the following factors:
(i)herd size;
(ii)period of restriction;
(iii)number of reactors;
(iv)previous disease problems;
(v)milk yield.
At the moment the tribunal is considering applications for additional temporary quota from producers who could not sell their in-calf heifers or a significant number of surplus dairy cows, other than cows to be culled, because of the current ban on livestock marts and other restrictions, which form part of the national effort to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. The closing date for application forms under this measure was 14 March 2001.
While every application to the tribunal is treated in a fair and sympathetic manner, it has not been possible, within the constraints of the limited amount of quota available, to meet the demands of quota from all applicants.
Top
Share