Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2013
527. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recourse that will be available to farmers who will not be able to secure milk quotas in the 2014 milk quota purchasing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40481/13]
View answerMy Department is currently running stage I of the 2014/2015 Milk Quota Trading Scheme. The closing date for receipt of applications in this stage is 11 October 2013. Applicants who fail to have their milk quota needs satisfied under this stage will have an opportunity under Stage II which will have a closing date of 7 January 2014. Other options available to milk purchasers who wish to acquire additional quota are: Purchase of land and quota on the open market; Purchase of quota only from a qualified relative; and Lease of land and quota from a qualified relative.
In addition to these options producers may acquire, on a temporary basis, additional quota under the Temporary Leasing Scheme which will run in each milk purchaser’s area both in this milk quota year and in the 2014/2015 milk quota year. I am aware that milk producers are probably experiencing a degree of frustration at present because their production capacity continues to be constrained by the quota regime. I would urge them however to take the necessary steps to ensure they stay within their allocated milk quota, because indications at this stage are that Ireland’s quota may be exceeded at the end of this quota year.
