569 Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount it cost the Exchequer to run the National Milk Agency in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15577/12]

570 Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that was collected for the National Milk Agency from the specific levy which is collected on a per litre basis from milk suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15578/12]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together.

The National Milk Agency is entirely funded by a levy of 0.145 cent per litre of milk purchased for processing for liquid consumption by milk processors. In 2010 this amounted to €609,765. The 2011 accounts for the agency are not yet finalised. The Agency does not receive any Exchequer funding. On 17th November 2011, as part of the Public Service Reform Plan, the Government announced a critical review of a number of State agencies. This included an announcement stating that the National Milk Agency would be reviewed by end of June 2012 with a view to either abolishing it or merging it with Bord Bia. This review is currently in progress.