Dept probes milk swapping scam

INVESTIGATIONS are being carried out by officials of the Department of Agriculture into alleged "swapping" of milk between dairy farmers, in order to avoid the super levy penalty of €1.62 per gallon.

It is understood that a small number of cases are under close scrutiny for irregularities in the 2003/2004 milk quota year.

Prosecutions are likely to follow against any farmers found to engage in this activity.