Tom Hayes
Ceist:178 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a decision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has applied for additional quota under the hardship scheme. [23988/03]
Written Answers. - Milk Quota.
Allocations of milk quota from the national reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the milk quota appeals tribunal. The tribunal is a body established to consider and advise on applications for additional quota from individual producers who have suffered severe hardship in the context of the milk quota system.
The person named has not applied to the tribunal previously. However, he has recently taken over the farm from his uncle who applied to the tribunal a number of times, including in 2002-03 when an allocation of 7,000 litres was made. The transfer of the farm to the named person which was taking place at the time of that application was an important factor in the consideration of the case. The person named may apply to the tribunal in the current 2003-04 quota year. Details of the 2003-04 hardship scheme will be announced shortly and application forms will be available from co-operatives and from the milk policy division, Department of Agriculture and Food, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.