Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 3

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Michael Noonan

Question:

214 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status regarding the application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick for extra milk quota due to hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23185/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Allocations of milk quota from the national reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The tribunal is a body established to consider and advise on applications for additional quota from individual producers who have suffered severe hardship in the context of the milk quota system.

The person named submitted an application for additional quota on the grounds of hardship in the 2002-03 milk quota year. However, there was insufficient quota available in the 2002-03 milk quota year to enable the tribunal to deal with all applications received and some, including that from the named individual, were held over for consideration in the 2003-2004 quota year. A letter issued to him outlining this position. The tribunal resumed its work recently and will be dealing with the hardship cases referred to above over the next number of weeks. When the application of the person named has been considered, he will be notified of the outcome accordingly.