Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
240 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has applied for additional quota under the hardship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11746/04]
View answerAllocations 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 named person submitted an application for additional quota on the grounds of hardship in the 2003-04 milk quota year. However, there was insufficient quota available in the 2003-04 year to enable the tribunal to deal with all applications received and some, including that from the named individual, have been held over for consideration in the 2004-05 quota year. The tribunal will begin dealing with these cases in the autumn and it will not be necessary for the person to make a fresh application.
The tribunal also considers applications from producers whose herds have been restricted by animal disease, TB or brucellosis, during the quota year. There is no record of the person named having submitted an application on the grounds of animal disease in the 2003-04 year. However, if his herd is restricted in the current 2004-05 quota year he may apply under the animal disease scheme when the forms become available in the autumn.
