Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 January 2008
876 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has proposals to increase milk quota availability to new entrants bearing in mind that present allocations are not viable for those starting from nothing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2057/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the allocation of milk quota to new entrants has been a feature of the milk quota regime for a number of years. New entrants under 35 years of age received preferential access to milk quota from a specially created priority pool under the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme until 2007, and the same priority pool arrangement is a feature of the new Milk Quota Trading Scheme. Indeed, the quantities of quota available to new entrants in their own right, and to new entrants farming in partnership with parents, have been considerably increased as a result of my introduction of the latter scheme in 2007.
The Milk Quota Trading Scheme in respect of quota allocations for the 2008/2009 milk quota year is currently in its second stage, and I am expecting to have the second exchange completed by mid-March. This will be followed in April/May by a comprehensive review of the Scheme in consultation with the farming organisations and ICOS, in the course of which any suggested changes will be considered by my Department.
