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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Oct 1993

Vol. 435 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Quota Sales.

Donal Carey

Ceist:

8 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when he will pay out overdue instalments on milk quota sales.

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the 1991/92 EC buy-up scheme.

There is no instalment of payment overdue under that scheme.

It is my understanding that this instalment has been delayed for some time. I made representations on behalf of a number of people and was told that the instalment would not be paid for some time. Farmers expected to receive the moneys at the end of August and sold out their quotas, some for retirement reasons but others for financial reasons. They should be paid their cheques.

My information is that this scheme was for the buy-up of milk at 41p per gallon over five years which would make a total of £2.05 per gallon. The 41p per gallon was paid last year and again this year. If the Deputy has any specific cases in mind I would like to know about them to see to it that they are paid.

Most of the payments were late this year.

The Minister's note is not correct. I am in a position to supply him with a number of names of farmers who are contracted under this scheme and who had been told that they would be paid by August. Up to last week they had not received any money. On approaching the Department they were given an indefinite reply so that they are not sure when they will be paid. Will the Minister look into that because it is unfair in the circumstances that farmers have not been paid?

All they were told was that everybody else is in the same situation. That was the official reply.

I would like to be informed of cases because the definite information is that both instalments have been paid and I am sure that is the case.

Can the Minister tell us when the payments were concluded? In one case a cheque went astray and I subsequently found out why that happened. However, there were complaints from farmers who were here last week about delayed payments. It seems that it is the policy of the Department to delay payments.

The position is that the Commission regulation 2349/91 provides for payment of the compensation by 16 October for each of the five years specified. The first instalment under the scheme was paid on 7 September 1992 and the second instalment was paid on 24 September 1993.

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