asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether the declared Government objective of reducing the gap between farm and other incomes is being achieved; and if he will give the average figures for farm and other incomes for each of the past five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Incomes.
12.
It is not possible to determine precisely the average income levels in agriculture and in other occupations. Considerable care must be exercised in making direct comparisons and I am advised that the available figures are more useful as a basis for comparing trends over time than for making absolute comparisons at any one date. The most recent period for which data are available is 1970-1973 and these show the gap between agricultural incomes and those in other occupations has been declining. I am, of course, aware that the position disimproved last year but official figures are not yet available to show the extent of this. The figures for the years 1970-73 are set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
AVERAGE income per person at work in (i) agriculture, (ii) other activities
|
Year |
Agriculture |
Other Activities |
|
£ |
||
|
1970 |
738 |
1,155 |
|
1971 |
845 |
1,320 |
|
1972 |
1,167 |
1,533 |
|
1973 |
1,553 |
1,817 |
While I accept that the gap between farm incomes and other incomes was declining up to 1973, I find it difficult to understand why the Minister is not able to tell the House what the average income can be estimated at since the Agricultural Institute have seemingly had very little difficulty in determining that the average income of farmers in 1974 was £1,500 and this must represent a very considerable decline on incomes in previous years. Assuming that the Minister admits, as he does rather reluctantly, that there is a very sharp widening of the gap between farming and other incomes, could he tell the House what steps the Government have in mind to remedy the situation?
The preliminary figure for 1974 shows that the average income per person at work in agriculture fell by 7 per cent from £1,553 to £1,445 but there are no figures available in the Central Statistics Office for average incomes in non-agricultural activities so that it is not possible to estimate the income gap in 1974.
I was asking the Minister to tell the House what steps the Government have in mind to correct the situation which he admits exists in the widening of the gap between agricultural and other incomes.
The prospects of a substantial improvement in the agricultural sector in the present year are obvious for anybody to see.
In what way are they obvious especially having regard to the fact that fertiliser imports have been levied as of yesterday and that this must have an adverse effect on prices of fertilisers generally? These prices have almost trebled in the last couple of years and the prices of products the farmers are producing have dropped almost as catastrophically as fertiliser prices have risen. On what does the Minister base his optimism?
I base it on the very substantial improvement in the cattle trade and on the increased price for milk products. These are the two main sectors. The prices for cereals are also satisfactory.
We cannot debate this matter today.
Surely the Minister is not suggesting that last week's reference price which was somewhat better than it has been for some time but is still only about 63 per cent of the guide price and the lowest in Europe——
It is still a fact that the prices are very much better than last year.