Dan Neville
Ceist:92 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the regime for distribution of quota for the year 2000-01. [15619/00]
Written Answers. - Milk Quota.
The eligibility criteria for the allocation to producers of the additional 20.5 million gallons of the 32 million gallons of milk quota negotiated under Agenda 2000 were set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 9 December 1999. A total of 15 million gallons is being allocated to active milk producers with quotas of fewer than 55,000 gallons who have demonstrated a commitment to dairying by filling their existing quota and acquiring additional quota. A further 5 million gallons will be allocated to younger dairy farmers with quotas of fewer than 35,000 gallons 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 detailed rules for the distribution of this milk quota were published in notices Nos. 266/31, 266/32, 266/33 and 266/34. The balance of 500,000 gallons will be set aside for special cases arising out of the operation of the general distribution.
The main mechanism under which producers can acquire additional quota for the year 2000-01 is the milk quota restructuring scheme operated at milk purchaser level. The detailed rules for the milk quota restructuring scheme 2000 were published in notices Nos. 94/1 and 94/3.
A milk quota temporary leasing scheme will also operate and the detailed rules on this will be announced later. The milk quota appeals tribunal will continue to examine applications for quota from the national reserve, including the special reserve of 0.5 million gallons set aside from the 20.5 million gallons allocated under Agenda 2000. Copies of the notices referred to will be sent to the Deputy.