Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 3

Written Answers. - Farming Sector.

Ivor Callely

Question:

87 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers operating in Ireland; if he will give a breakdown of farming sectors; the level of operators in each sector who avail of grants, subsidies, premia or any payment; the average grant payment to the 144,177 farmers which availed of one or more grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13448/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The Central Statistics Office provides information relating to the number of farmers and their representation in each farming sector.

CSO data indicate that in 1998 there was a total of 146,300 farmers in Ireland. The most recent information from the CSO regarding the number of farmers in each farming sector relates to 1993 and is contained in the publication agricultural labour input survey. This reveals the following details:

Farming Sector	Number of Farmers
Tillage	4,400
Dairying	39,000
Beef	68,900
Sheep	15,300
Mixed Livestock	25,600
Mixed Crop/Livestock	4,300
Other	2,000

According to my Department's records, 144,177 farmers received grants in the form of direct income payments of approximately £7,200, on average, in 1998.

In addition, farmers have also benefited from investment supports such as the farm improvement programme and retired farmers received pension payments totalling £67 million in 1998.