Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1992

Vol. 424 No. 9

Written Answers. - Off-Farm Incomes.

Ivan Yates

Question:

111 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farms which depend on off-farm incomes in order to maintain their families; whether this number has increased since 1982; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Information on off-farm incomes of farm households is collected in the CSO's Household Budget Survey, which was conducted in 1973, 1980 and 1987. Information on farm income is collected in the Teagasc National Farm Survey, (NFS) which is conducted annually.

In 1987, both surveys focused on a number of the same farm households in order to establish clear information on farm and off-farm income. The results were as follows:

—The NFS sample represented 188,000 farms.

—Of the 188,000 farms, the head of household had farming as a principal occupation in the case of 135,000 farms and did not have farming as a principal occupation in the case of 53,000 farms.

—Of the 135,000 farms on which the head of household had farming as a principal occupation, income from farming was the main source of income for the head of household for 78,000 and was not the main source for 57,000.

No similar exercise involving the Household Budget Survey and the National Farm Survey has been conducted since 1987. However, it is estimated that since then, the number of farms which have off-farm income has increased. This trend is likely to continue and the various measures to diversify the rural economy and promote rural development should have the effect of facilitating, among others, farmers who wish to take up work generating off-farm income.