Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for additional quota in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [37834/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The closing date for receipt of applications to the first stage of the 2012-2013 Milk Quota Trading Scheme was 7 October 2011. An application was received in my Department from the named person before that date.

The processing of the applications is now at an advanced stage, and I expect to be in a position to announce the results of the scheme in mid December. At that time my Department will notify all Co-ops of the outcome of the scheme and they, in turn, will inform their participating suppliers of the outcome of their individual applications.

I expect to announce the second stage of the 2012-2013 Scheme in early January 2012.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is likely to be a surplus of quota left over at the end of the year to be distributed to over-quota producers as part of the flexi-milk system. [37843/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The flexi-milk arrangements are designed to redistribute unused quota within Co-op collection areas, so that the potential exposure of over-quota producers to a super levy can be mitigated. The question of whether the country will be over quota at the end of the year, of course, still has to be determined. Estimates based on Co-ops' submission of butterfat-adjusted delivery figures indicate that the country is 1.2 per cent over quota at the end of October 2011 (down from 2.4 per cent over quota at the end of September). I would therefore take this opportunity to remind all milk producers of their responsibility to produce in accordance with quota limits, and to plan accordingly over the coming months.