Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:178 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a suckler quota will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13478/03]
Written Answers. - Suckler Cow Quota.
There is no record in my Department of an application form having been received from the person named under the 2001, 2002 or 2003 suckler cow quota national reserve. The closing date in respect of the 2003 reserve was 30 August 2002. Accordingly, it is not possible to consider an application from him at this stage.
The person named may, of course buy or lease in suckler cow quota which he may require to ensure payment on all of his eligible animals under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme. It should be noted that he must have the purchase or leasing arrangements completed on or before the date he lodges his application for the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme. The trading period for suckler cow quotas commenced in January 2003 and will close on 27 June 2003.
The person named may wish to apply for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the 2004 national reserve, if such a reserve is operational having regard to the discussions under the mid-term review of the common agricultural policy, and I have arranged to have an application form sent to him if and when they become available.
Dan Neville
Ceist:179 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the criteria for obtaining suckler cow quota from the national reserve. [13501/03]
The criteria for obtaining suckler cow quota from the national reserve are proposed each year by the quota review group and adopted with or without amendments by me, as Minister, having regard to EU regulations governing the quota regime.
The criteria are generally similar from year to year and the criteria which applied in respect of the 2003 national reserve were as follows. There were four categories A, B, C, D under which farmers could apply for an allocation of quota but a farmer could only apply under one category. Category A catered for first time applicants for suckler cow premium in 2003 who were under 35 years of age on 1 January 2002. Farmers who applied for the suckler cow premium for the first time in 2002 could also apply under this category provided they satisfied the age criteria. Category B catered for farmers with holdings on off-shore islands where at least 50% of the forage area of the holding was located on the island. Category C catered for organic farmers who were registered with the Department on or before 29 June 2002. Category D catered for farmers who were regular applicants for the suckler cow premium and who would be applying in 2003 and who required additional quota to ensure viability of their holdings.
The total annual income of a farmer including that of his-her spouse-partner, applicable under all categories, could not exceed €25,600. Any off-farm income for the period 6 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 included in the total income could not exceed €9,525.
In respect of Categories A, C and D only, the total number of livestock units on the holding could not exceed 50. There were only some 1,500 suckler cow premium rights available for distribution from the 2003 national reserve. Since demand for reserve quota exceeded that figure, there were not enough rights available to satisfy all applicants. Consequently, quota had to be distributed in accordance with the priorities laid down by the quota review group and EU regulations as follows: (i) 5% of the reserve had to be reserved for category B applicants – farmers with holdings on offshore islands; (ii) 10% of the reserve had to be reserved for category C applicants – organic farmers; and (iii) the remaining quota was distributed to qualifying applicants under category A – first time applicants under 35 years of age who, under EU rules, had to be given priority. As a result there was no quota left to allocate to any applicant under category D, that is, farmers who required additional quota to ensure viability of their holding. The position with regard to the 2004 national reserve will be examined later next month.