asked the Minister for Agriculture the estimated income per agricultural labour unit (ALU) in each year since 1973, having regard to the agricultural incomes statistics.
Written Answers . - Agricultural Incomes Statistics .
160.
: An agricultural labour unit (ALU) as defined by the EEC is the unit corresponding to the labour of a person working on a holding at least 280 days or 2,380 hours per year. The number of ALUs in Irish agriculture has not been calculated up to the present and the income per ALU cannot therefore be derived from the agricultural income statistics. However, the income from self-employment and other trading income in agriculture for the years 1973 to 1977 and the number of males engaged in farm work on 1 June in those years is as follows:
|
Income from Self Employment and other trading income |
Males engaged in farm work 1 June |
|
|
(£ million) |
(thousand) |
|
|
1973 |
364.6 |
250.5 |
|
1974 |
319.3 |
244.8* |
|
1975 |
471.9 |
242.8* |
|
1976 |
533.0 |
235.0* |
|
1977 |
743.0* |
228.0† |
* Preliminary.
† Estimate.