Dan Neville
Question:133 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to Question No. 59 of 22 May 2003, the way in which the milk quota will impact on the person (details supplied). [28165/03]
Written Answers. - Milk Quota.
Under the mid-term review agreement, a new dairy premium will be introduced from 2004. For 2004 only, the dairy premium will be a coupled scheme, with the payment based on the milk quota held, either owned or leased in, by the producer on 31 March 2004. The dairy premium will be decoupled in 2005 and will become part of a single payment entitlement. The part of the single payment related to the dairy premium will then be based on the eligible milk quota held on 31 March 2005 and will be payable in 2005 and subsequent years to the producer who holds the quota on that date.
As regards the quota, a number of possibilities would continue to be open to the person named on the expiry of the lease. The lease could be renewed for a further period with the original lessee or his or her successor; the quota could be transferred by way of sale, lease or gift with the land to which it attached to a family member, as defined in the regulation, provided that person is a milk producer; and the quota could be sold to a restructuring scheme. In this case it should be noted that where a person sells a milk quota into restructuring, that person's son or daughter, subject to certain conditions, will have first priority in the purchase of quota under a later restructuring scheme provided it is available.