asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if the number of people employed in the fruit and vegetable canning industry has declined in the last ten years and, if so, if the trend is likely to continue.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fruit and Vegetable Industry.
16.
The employment in the fruit and vegetable canning industry has declined in the past ten years mainly, I understand, because of modernisation and rationalisation undertaken by firms in this sector and increased import competition. The Industrial Development Authority are hopeful that the decline in employment can be reversed by the establishment of new projects in this sector and the expansion of existing firms.
Would the Minister not agree it is an almost tragic situation that in an agricultural country like ours there should be a rapid decline in employment in agricultural goods processing? Could the Minister give any indication which would give grounds for hope that there will be concrete increases in employment to compensate for the losses that have taken place already?
I agree that it is very regrettable indeed that in a country such as ours there should be job losses in this area. But the principal difficulties appear to be the continuity of supply of raw materials here, which is not as easily come by as in other countries.
How many people are employed in the industry today, and would the Minister have the relevant figures for ten years ago?
That would be a separate question.
2,700 today; 3,700 in 1968.