asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of gallons of flexi-milk which was available for farmers in 1985-86; the number of farmers who qualified for flexi-milk; if he will give a breakdown of the different categories of farmers who qualified and the gallonage allocated to the following creameries; Kerry Co-op, Ballyclough, Mitchelstown, Golden Vale, Waterford and Avonmore; the total amount available to all other creameries; the number of farmers who qualified in each creamery area; the gallons allocated to each farmer in the 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 ceased production; the number of quotas that have changed hands; if he is satisfied with the overall working of the quota system since its introduction; if the creameries should show more efficiency in the operation of the quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Flexi-Milk.
Flexi-milk is the term used to denote the quantity of milk available in any co-op or dairy area from suppliers who do not fill their complete quota. It is allocated according to guidelines drawn up after consultations with the farm and co-operaative organisations to reduce the levy liability of those suppliers who have exceeded their quotas.
The distribution of flexi-milk, therefore, only arises in the case of co-operatives and other purchases which exceed their quotas. In the case of purchasers who do not exceed their quotas such distribution does not take place because none of their suppliers is liable for superlevy. The details of the amount of flexi-milk available and its distribution to the eligible categories of suppliers by those purchasers who exceeded their quotas for 1985-86 will not be available for some time. As the quotas are allocated on a purchaser basis, details of the amounts allocated to each individual farmer are not collected. Officers of my Department are, however, empowered to examine purchasers' records to ensure that the guidelines for the reallocation of flexi-milk together with the other provisions relating to the quota system are being observed.
The Department do not have details of the number of farmers who ceased milk production or of the number of quotas that have changed hands.
I am satisfied that, taking account of the constraints which it imposes, the system is working reasonably well and that the purchasers are operating within the guidelines laid down.