asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of gallons of flexi-milk available for distribution to farmers in 1985; the total number of farmers who qualify for flexi-milk; if he will give a breakdown of the different categories of farmers who qualify and the gallonage allocated to the creameries of Kerry Co-op, Ballyclough, Mitchelstown and Golden Vale; the number of farmers who qualify in each creamery area; the gallons allocated to each farmer in categories; if he will explain the supervisory role being adopted by his inspectorate in policing the allocation of quotas; the number of new entrants to milk production in each creamery area; the number of farmers who discontinued milk production; the number of quotas that have changed hands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Distribution of Flexi-milk.
The distribution of flexi-milk is only relevant in the case of co-operatives and other purchasers which exceed their quotas. In the case of purchasers which do not exceed their quotas such distribution does not arise because none of their suppliers are liable for super levy. The quantity of flexi-milk available for reallocation by purchasers which exceeded their quotas in 1984-85 was approximately 24 million gallons. Figures for 1985-86 will not be available for some months.
In 1984-85 two categories of producers qualified for priority in flexi-milk allocations. These were (i) producers who had invested heavily in milk production (particularly those in the "rescue package") and (ii) new entrants to milk production in the period 1 January 1983 to 21 May 1984. In the case of purchasers which exceeded their quotas the number of producers in category (i) was 714 and in category (ii) 572. The amounts reallocated to farmers were dependent on the quantities available in the purchasing area and the quantities required by the special categories in that area. As the quota system is operated on a purchaser basis, details of the amounts allocated to each individual farmer are not collected. Officers of the Department are, however, empowered to examine purchasers' records to ensure that the guidelines laid down for flexi-milk reallocation together with the other provisions relating to the quota system as contained in the regulations are being observed.
The Department do not have details of the number of producers who went out of milk production or of quotas that have changed hands. The following table gives particulars of the numbers qualifying in categories (i) and (ii), as furnished by the co-operatives concerned:
|
Co-operatives |
Category (i) |
Category (ii) |
|
Kerry |
96 |
134 |
|
Ballyclough |
131 |
81 |
|
* Mitchelstown |
— |
— |
|
Golden Vale |
112 |
183 |
* Mitchelstown did not exceed its quota for 1984-85.