Vol. 513 No. 4
139 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was not allocated any milk under the additional Euro milk quota allocations in view of the fact that he is a small producer as defined by his Department; and the criteria in relation to persons who have not leased or purchased additional milk quota over recent years. [2869/00]
The eligibility criteria for the allocation to producers of the additional 20.5 million gallons of milk quota negotiated under Agenda 2000 were indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 9 December 1999.
Of this additional quota to be available for use from 1 April 2000, 15 million gallons will be allocated to active milk producers with quotas of less than 55,000 gallons who have demonstrated a commitment to dairying by filling their existing quota and acquiring additional quota. A further five million gallons will be allocated to younger dairy farmers who have shown similar commitment. It was necessary to set strict eligibility criteria for the allocation of the extra quota in order to maximise its effect. The scheme for the allocation of the 15 million gallons is being administered by the dairy co-operatives in accordance with criteria set by me. On the basis of the information available to my Department, the person named does not meet the eligibility criteria for these schemes and, therefore, is not entitled to an allocation.
I will, however, announce details in due course for the allocation of the remaining 500,000 gallons that has been set aside for special cases arising out of the operation of the general distribution and if the person named qualifies under that scheme he may apply at that stage.
