asked the Minister for Agriculture the consumption of flour in the Republic of Ireland; the proportion of this flour produced in the Republic of Ireland; the proportion imported; the proportion of wheat used in the production of flour in the Republic of Ireland; and the numbers employed in the Irish flour milling industry for each year over the past five years.
Written Answers. - Flour Production.
828.
The consumption of flour in this country in 1981 was 230,000 tonnes approximately. About 97 per cent of this flour was home produced, the balance being imported. Of the wheat used around 87 per cent was imported and 13 per cent was home produced. I am advised that the numbers employed in the Irish flour milling industry in each of the years 1977-1981 were as follows: 1977, 1,900; 1978, 1,700; 1979, 1,500; 1980, 1,500; 1981, 1,400.