Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food if he will grant the appeal lodged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17468/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Milk Quota Temporary Leasing Scheme allows milk producers to offer for lease through their milk purchaser, on a temporary basis, all or part of their milk quota that they do not expect to use in the current quota year.

If a producer intends to offer 80% or more of their quota to the scheme they must first apply to my Department for a Ministerial Declaration permitting them to do so. Approval for such applications can only be granted in force majeure or other duly justified cases, where production capacity has been temporarily affected.

The person (details supplied), was granted a Ministerial Declaration for the 2010/2011 milk quota year. It was made clear to him at that time that my Department would not be in a position to consider any further applications for a declaration under the same circumstances in the following year. As the circumstances outlined in the current application were the same as those submitted in the 2010/2011 application, the decision to refuse the application on this occasion has been upheld and notification of this decision has issued.