asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has any plans to restore the milk quota to farmers who previously lost it due to brucellosis in their herds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Restoration of Milk Quota.
55.
Action has already been taken on a number of fronts to help producers with brucellosis in their herds, with their quota problems. A national reserve of 7 million gallons was set up by the Government in 1984 in order to reallocate additional quotas to producers whose deliveries in the base year 1983 were affected by animal diseases such as brucellosis or certain other exceptional factors.
In addition, I have provided that the priority categories of farmers to be covered in the arrangements for the restructuring scheme, the temporary leasing scheme and the distribution of flexi-milk, include producers affected by brucellosis in their herds in the years 1978-1983. I consider that these are the best arrangements I can make for this category of producers within the limited degree of flexibility available to me under the Community regulations.
Furthermore there is at present a package of proposals before the Council of Ministers to extend the special categories of producers, set out in the Community regulations, to include certain farmers who participated in the non-marketing schemes. These proposals will cover some producers who joined the schemes as a result of animal disease, including brucellosis, in their herds.