Vol. 504 No. 7
162 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the steps that can be encouraged in the context of rural development within county plans to ensure a living countryside into the new millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12757/99]
The Government is committed to publishing, in the near future, a White Paper on rural development which will set out a strategic policy to maintain and support vibrant rural communities. As a statement of Government policy, the overall strategy contained in the White Paper will influence and inform the preparation of plans for economic and social development at national, regional and local levels.
163 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the number of farming families who will cease farming over the next five years; the proposals, if any, he has to deal with this problem; and the plans, if any, he has to seek the provision of alternative rural employment for these people. [12849/99]
Over the period 1992 to 1998, the number of family farms declined by nearly 2,500 per year on average according to CSO data. However, in the last two years this decline has slowed to 1,700 in 1997 and 1,400 in 1998. There was a sharp decline in the amount of agricultural land being sold in the same period.
The reduction in farm numbers is confined almost exclusively to farms of less than 20 hectares. In most cases this occurs due to the death or retirement of a farmer without an heir, or where the heir does not wish to take over the farm, rather than due to an active family ceasing to farm. It is likely that this trend will continue over the next five years at approximately the same rate as in the recent past.
In relation to the creation of rural employment, recent research shows that for every one job lost in agriculture in the period 1991 to 1996, 4.5 jobs were created in other sectors for those living in rural districts. Given the excellent employment performance in the last few years it is likely that this ratio has further improved since 1996. The Government nevertheless remains alive to the issue of employment in rural areas, and this will be a main focus of the forthcoming White Paper on rural development.
