asked the Minister for Agriculture under the new super-levy quota milk regime the position of farmers who participated in his Department's scheme of premiums for non-marketing of milk and milk products for a period of five years, which period included the years 1981 to 1983, inclusive; whether it is the case that such farmers are now being denied any quota of milk production at all notwithstanding the fact that the period of non-marketing of milk applicable to them has expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Milk quotas are based on deliveries made during 1983. Accordingly farmers who participated in the non-marketing scheme and whose non-marketing period expired before or during 1983 are entitled to a quota based on their actual 1983 deliveries. Other participants in the scheme whose non-marketing period expired after 1983 are in the same position as new entrants to milk production and are dependent on sharing in the "flexi-milk" available to their co-operatives or dairies. I am, however, examining whether changes can be made in these arrangements for 1985-86 and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.

In cases where the Department entered into agreements with farmers in 1980 under the milk cessation scheme, whereby these farmers would be paid certain allowances if they agreed not to produce milk for a five year period, is it not unfair to such farmers who have dairy units on their farms not to permit them to return to milk production?

I am not sure that this is unfair. The situation has changed. People were compensated for agreeing not to engage in milk production for a five year period.

I take it that one of the consequences of the super-levy regime is that farms in respect of which there are no milk quotas are effectively devalued.

That is open to argument. It may be that they have changed to some other system of farming and are quite happy, so the question could be hypothetical.

Regarding those farmers who are not happy now that the five year period has expired, would the Minister be prepared to give sympathetic consideration to their cases? I am aware that representations have been made to the Department by some farmers who are extremely unhappy, farmers who are being deprived of income and who have elaborate dairy units attached to their farms.

One would wonder, then, why they agreed in the first place not to produce milk. If flexi-milk is available in the co-operatives with which any such farmer would be involved his case might be considered in that way.

Their agreement was for five years.

(Limerick West): Is it part of the terms of that scheme that the farmers concerned are debarred from returning to milk production during the time that the quotas apply?

They are not debarred from returning to milk production. If the period of the scheme expired between 1 January 1983 and 20 May 1984, they would be regarded as new entrants.

(Limerick West): What priority would the Minister be prepared to give to those applicants regarding the flexi-milk that may be available for disposal?

I do not think I could classify them within the present order, which is, first, for disease, secondly, for new entrants, and thirdly, for financial difficulties. They would probably fit in after that order.

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