Liz McManus
Ceist:52 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be informed about his sheep quota and suckler quota.
Written Answers. - Sheep and Suckler Quotas.
The relevant EC Regulations provide for ewe premium quotas to be based on the number of ewes on which a producer was paid the premium in 1991 provided that the producer also applied for the premium in 1992.
The person named is not entitled to a quota because he did not apply for the premium in 1991 or 1992. However, the EC Regulations also provide for the establishment of a national reserve and a special reserve for the disadvantaged areas for allocation to certain categories of producers. My Department will be announcing the criteria for the allocation of these reserves shortly and the person named can then submit a formal application along with supporting documentation for reserve quota to my Department at Michael Davitt House, Castlebar. As soon as all applications are processed applicants will be informed whether or not they have been allocated a quota from these reserves.
Suckler cow quotas are based on the number of suckler cows on which producers were paid premium under the 1992 suckler cow premium scheme. The person named applied for premium during the December 1992 application period. Applications received in this period are being processed at present and he will be allocated a quota based on the number of suckler cows on which he is deemed eligible for payment of premium less a deduction for the national reserve.
When all applications received during the December application period are processed herd owners including the person named will be informed of their suckler cow quota entitlement shortly thereafter.