Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

105 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was refused additional suckler cow quota from the national reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16259/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

(Mr. Walsh): The person named applied for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the year 2000 national reserve under category C. This category was reserved for farmers who, inter alia, had a stocking level of at least ten livestock units and not more than 20 livestock units.

As the person named had 9.2 livestock units he did not qualify under this category. His livestock units are determined as follows: milk quota of 5887 gallons divided by 897 = 6.5, rounded up to seven; special beef premium = 1.2; suckler cow premium = 1. Total = 9.2.

He was then considered under category D which was reserved for farmers who did not qualify under the priority categories A, B or C. Under this category, eligible farmers with no livestock units were allocated quota first, then those with one livestock unit and so on. All the available quota was distributed under category D to eligible farmers with eight livestock units or less.

As the person named had 9.2 livestock units, there was insufficient quota available to enable an allocation to be made to him under category D.