Colm M. Hilliard
Ceist:109 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he intends to notify Irish sheep farmers of their individual sheep quotas; and, if so, when this information will be provided.
Written Answers. - Sheep Quotas.
EC regulations provide for ewe premium quota to be allocated to those flockowners who were paid the ewe premium in 1991 and who applied for the premium in 1992. These regulations also provide that flockowners who received no premium or a reduced premium in 1991 because of certain natural circumstances may be allocated a quota based on an earlier year when those natural circumstances did not obtain. Furthermore, flockowners who were paid a reduced premium or no premium because of the application of penalties may be allocated a quota based on the number of eligible ewes found at the inspection which led to those penalties.
These provisions require my Department to examine a substantial number of individual files in order to establish the precise entitlement of each flockowner to a quota. This exercise will be completed shortly and flockowners will be notified of their quota entitlement shortly thereafter.