Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
211 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if consideration will be given to farmers who lost out on their entitlements while supplying milk during the base years of 1,2 and 3 are not able to return to milking for various reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20571/04]
View answerUnder the EU regulations on the single payment scheme, the decoupled dairy premium is based on the eligible milk quota held by dairy farmers on 31 March 2005. To be eligible a dairy farmer must have delivered milk during the 2004-05 milk quota year or prior to 15 May 2005. The premium is not based on milk production or quota held in the reference years for the single payment scheme, 2000-02, and, therefore, a former producer who has already disposed of his or her quota will not be eligible for any dairy premium payment.
However, certain categories of farmers will be eligible to apply for entitlements from the national reserve. Among these are farmers who, on or before 29 September 2003, participated in a scheme for the conversion of their production from one type of farming enterprise to another. Eligibility criteria will be established for this category as well as for the other categories. Application forms will be available in the autumn in relation to these particular cases.
In the case of a dairy farmer who holds a quota but cannot utilise it during the 2004-2005 milk quota year on the grounds of force majeure-exceptional circumstances he-she may be eligible for the decoupled dairy premium even where he or she temporary leases the non-utilised quota. In such cases producers must make application to my Department and get prior approval. Details of the scheme for farmers who consider that their milk production during the 2004-2005 milk quota year was adversely affected by force majeure-exceptional circumstances and who wish to temporary lease the quota and secure entitlement to the dairy premium will be announced in the next week or so.
