John Perry
Ceist:245 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will have a 6.8 suckler cow quota returned to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5549/99]
Written Answers. - Suckler Cow Quota.
Under EU regulations governing the quota regime, farmers holding suckler cow quota greater than seven premium rights are required to use at least 90 per cent of that quota every year. Otherwise, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, the part not used will be forfeited and returned to the national reserve.
The person named held a suckler cow quota of 22.8 premium rights in 1998.
He used 16 of those rights in 1998 having applied for the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme on 16 cows, and as the percentage of quota used is less than the required 90 per cent, the unused quota – 6.8 premium rights – has been returned to the national reserve.
In a letter that issued to him on 10 February 1999, the person named was invited to submit details of any exceptional circumstances that may have prevented him from using 90 per cent of his quota in 1998, but he has not responded to that letter.