Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:123 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps he intends to take to improve farm incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25098/01]
Written Answers. - Low Income Farms.
The national farm survey shows average family farm income for full-time farmers, as defined by Teagasc, was £21,663 in 2000, a 26% increase on 1999, while family farm income from part-time farms averaged £4,915, an increase of 36% on 1999. Part-time farmers who held off-farm employment had an average income of £20,300 made up of £16,000 from off-farm earnings and £4,300 from farm income.
In relation to farms with a farm income of less than £10,000, 86% are part-time. It is important to note that, on 96% of all part-time farms in the survey, the farmer and-or spouse had some other source of income, from off-farm employment, pension or social assistance.
I am aware that low income remains a difficulty for some farm families. Therefore my colleague, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, introduced the farm assist scheme in 1999 and there are now over 8,200 low income families receiving support under this scheme. In addition the Government and the EU support the incomes of all farmers through public expenditure on the agri-food sector, which in 2000 amounted to over £2 billion. The scale of this assistance to the sector clearly underlines the commitment of the Government and the EU to supporting farm incomes. This expenditure includes direct payments to farmers, which have increased significantly in recent years due both to the Agenda 2000 CAP reforms and increased Exchequer spending.