Vol. 564 No. 3
98 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider, as an alternative, free allocation of milk quota to the Erris area since the abandonment of the redistribution of milk quota to eligible milk suppliers in the CLÁR areas of the Mayo region. [9256/03]
I have no proposals to allocate milk quota to producers in particular areas of the country for free. Under the milk quota restructuring scheme, which operates each year in co-operative or dairy collection areas, producers who wish to increase their quotas may, subject to certain conditions, purchase additional quota from the restructuring pool. The maximum price at which quota may be sold and bought is set by the Minister on a national basis and has been reduced very significantly over recent years. Co-operatives or dairies can set a price that is lower than that maximum. I understand that considerable quantities of quota have been available under this scheme over the years in the collection area which includes the areas referred to by the Deputy. In addition, a scheme operates each year for the free allocation of milk quota on a permanent basis, from the national reserve to producers who have suffered extreme hardship in the context of the milk quota system. Allocations are based on the recommendation of the milk quota appeals tribunal, which assesses applications on the basis of objective criteria. The scheme for the 2003-04 quota year has not yet been drawn up but it will be announced in the usual way around the end of the summer.
99 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding a milk quota application appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [9269/03]
The allocation of the balance of the Agenda 2000 milk quota to certain categories of small and medium-scale milk producers has been completed and applicants have been notified of the outcomes of their cases. An application was submitted by the wife of the person named in relation to this quota. As the conditions of the scheme were not satisfied, however, an allocation was not made. An appeals procedure exists in relation to this scheme and the person named has submitted an appeal. The assessment of appeals will be based on recommendations from the milk quota appeals tribunal. When the appeals process is completed, each appellant will be notified of the outcome.
