Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 184: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of new entrants into the dairy sector for the years 2008 to date in 2010. [3869/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are two schemes operating in my Department through which new entrants to dairying might acquire a milk quota. These are the Milk Quota Trading Scheme and the Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants.

Since 1 April 2008 to date, a total of 100 new entrants have purchased quota through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme. Quota purchased under this scheme is allocated to the new entrants on 1 April in the year following the purchase and they then have 15 months from that date in which to commence production.

The Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants was introduced in the 2009/2010 milk quota year when a total of 72 applicants each received allocations of 200,000 litres of milk quota. These new entrants have until 1 April 2011 to commence production.