Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the outcome of an application for flexible milk allocation in 2004 and 2005 for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [8741/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Allocations of milk quota from the national reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the milk quota appeals tribunal. The tribunal is a body established to consider and advise on applications for additional quota from individual producers who have suffered severe hardship in the context of the milk quota system. It also examines applications from producers whose herds have been restricted by animal disease in the current milk quota year.

The person in question applied for additional quota on the grounds of animal disease in the current 2004 to 2005 quota year. The tribunal examined his application last December but they did not recommend making an allocation on that occasion. While every application to the tribunal is treated in a fair and sympathetic manner it has not been possible within the constraints of the limited amount of quota available and the sizeable number of applications received to meet the demands for quota from all applicants.

The person has appealed the decision but as all quota available has been allocated the tribunal has not yet re-examined his case. If additional quota becomes available for allocation at the end of the year the tribunal will review his application. At this stage, however, I cannot give any assurance that the named person will receive additional quota.