Written Answers. - Quotas Eligibility.
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:
199
Éamon Ó Cuív
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
whether he intends having a category for small farmers in relation to the allocation of suckler cow quota, whereby a farmer with less than ten suckler cows would automatically be entitled to an allocation from the national reserve once he had eligible animals for which he had no quota.
[15443/95]
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:
200
Éamon Ó Cuív
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
the basis on which an age limit was imposed on the allocation of quota for ewe and suckler cow to first time entrants into farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15444/95]
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:
201
Éamon Ó Cuív
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
the categories of eligibility for farmers for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the national reserve; and the plans, if any, he has for changing these categories for 1996.
[15445/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 200 and 201 together.
The following categories of farmers are eligible for an allocation of premium rights from the suckler cow reserve in 1995:
(a) small scale milk producers whose certified milk quota on 1 April 1995 was less than 25,638 gallons and who became eligible to apply for the suckler cow premium for the first time in 1993 or in subsequent years. Small scale milk producers who were limited to payment on ten cows in 1992 because of EU regulations may also qualify under this section;
(b) producers who applied for the suckler cow premium regularly since 1990, including 1995, but
(i) whose eligible suckler cows in 1992 were lower than normal because of exceptional circumstances or
(ii) who did not apply for suckler cow premium in 1992;
(c) producers who can demonstrate that the operation of the quota limits will jeopardise the viability of their holdings. Producers who acquired land, formerly used for beef production, on a permanent basis since June 1992, and producers who qualified for suckler cow premium for the first time in 1993, may also qualify under this category.
The total income of the applicant, including that of his/her spouse/ partner, must not exceed £15,700 per annum.
(d) producers who applied for the suckler cow premium for the first time in 1995. Applicants must be under 35 years of age on 1 January 1995 and must meet the following conditions:
(i) If 26 years of age or over but under 35 years of age on 1 January 1994 must
(a) have obtained the Teagasc Certificate in farming or a higher qualification; or
(b) have at least three years practical experience in farming and have satisfactorily completed a course of training in farming of a minimum duration of 150 hours; or
have five years practical experience in farming.
(ii) If under 26 years of age on 1 January 1994, must have the requirements set out at (a) or (b) above.
The total income of the applicant, (including that of his/her spouse/ partner), must not exceed £15,700 per annum. At least 30 per cent of that total income must be derived from farming.
These priority categories will be reviewed in 1996 in light of the recommendations of the Suckler Cow Quota Review Group. However, in view of the limited nature of the reserve it is not possible that farmers with less than ten suckler cows would be automatically entitled to reserve quota to cover suckler cows for which they did not currently have a quota. Such farmers may, of course, apply for reserve quota provided they meet the other conditions of the scheme.
The age limit restriction on new entrants in the allocation of suckler cow and ewe premium reserve quota is consistent with limits applied in other schemes operated by my Department and is designed to ensure that scarce reserve quota is targeted at the most deserving categories of farmers.
