asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can estimate if we will exceed our milk quota this year; if so, by how much; and if he can estimate the cost of this to the Irish dairy farmer.

At this stage it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of final output for the year. Deliveries for the milk year to the end of January are estimated to be about 0.6 per cent above the quota.

In view of the present review in Europe is there likely to be a further reduction in the milk quota for this country? Considering that co-operatives are so efficient and computerised one would imagine that the figures would be more up-to-date where we would have even last week's figures available. Is the Minister far behind on the figures at present?

The figures that I have given the Deputy are for a ten month period, up to 1 February.