Michael Ring
Question:190 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the way in which farmers who are getting a quota, either sheep or cow, for the first time will be assessed. [17083/03]
Written Answers. - Animal Quotas.
I assume the Deputy is referring to allocations of quota from the national reserves. The criteria for obtaining quota from the national reserve are proposed each year by the quota review group and adopted with or without amendments by me having regard to EU regulations governing the quota regime.
The criteria that applied in respect of the 2003 suckler cow quota national reserve were as follows: there were four categories A, B, C, D under which farmers could apply for an allocation of quota but a farmer could only apply under one category; category A catered for first time applicants for suckler cow premium in 2003 who were under 35 years of age on 1 January 2002; farmers who applied for the suckler cow premium for the first time in 2002 could also apply under this category provided they satisfied the age criteria; category B catered for farmers with holdings on off-shore islands where at least 50% of the forage area of the holding was located on the island; category C catered for organic farmers who were registered with the Department on or before 29 June 2002; and category D catered for farmers who were regular applicants for the suckler cow premium and who would be applying in 2003 and who required additional quota to ensure viability of their holdings.
The total annual income of a farmer including that of his/her spouse/partner, applicable under all categories could not exceed €25,600. Any off-farm income for the period 6 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 included in the total income could not exceed €9,525. In respect of categories A, C and D only, the total number of livestock units on the holding could not exceed 50. There were only some 1,500 suckler cow premium rights available for distribution from the 2003 national reserve. Since demand for reserve quota exceeded that figure, there were not enough rights available to satisfy all applicants. Consequently, quota had to be distributed in accordance with the priorities laid down by the quota review group and EU regulations as follows: (i) 5% of the reserve had to be reserved for category B applicants – farmers with holdings on offshore islands; (ii) 10% of the reserve had to be reserved for category C applicants – organic farmers; (iii) the remaining quota was distributed to qualifying applicants under category A – first time applicants under 35 years of age who under EU rules had to be given priority. As a result there was no quota left to allocate to any applicant under category D, i.e. farmers who required additional quota to ensure viability of their holding.
Due to the large number of rights available for distribution in the 2003 ewe premium national reserve, quota was allocated to all qualifying applicants. Reserve quota was not allocated to farmers who had commonage where certain restrictions on ewe numbers applied.