Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2009
464 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered here in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26397/09]
View answerThe annual number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered at export-approved plants in each of the years between 1999 and 2008, inclusive, is as follows:
|
Year |
Cattle Slaughter |
Sheep Slaughter |
Pig Slaughter |
|
(‘000 head) |
(‘000 head) |
(‘000 head) |
|
|
1999 |
1,997 |
4,523 |
3,340 |
|
2000 |
1,752 |
4,117 |
3,050 |
|
2001 |
1,779 |
3,903 |
3,210 |
|
2002 |
1,675 |
3,307 |
3,040 |
|
2003 |
1,763 |
3,159 |
2,830 |
|
2004 |
1,725 |
3,565 |
2,710 |
|
2005 |
1,606 |
3,613 |
2,620 |
|
2006 |
1,692 |
3,479 |
2,620 |
|
2007 |
1,692 |
3,267 |
2,570 |
|
2008 |
1,591 |
2,919 |
2,510 |
An increase in average carcass weights in both cattle and pigs has somewhat offset the fall in numbers with the result that production has remained relatively stable. In the case of sheep, the decline in slaughtering has mirrored the decline in the size of the sheep herd during the period in question.
465 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of animals in the beef herd; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26398/09]
View answerThe number of animals in the suckler cow herd in each of the last ten years is set out in the table that follows this reply. The size of the herd has remained relatively stable during this time with very little annual fluctuation.
|
Year |
No. in Suckler Cow Herd |
|
(‘000 head) |
|
|
1999 |
1,217 |
|
2000 |
1,187 |
|
2001 |
1,197 |
|
2002 |
1,154 |
|
2003 |
1,187 |
|
2004 |
1,207 |
|
2005 |
1,228 |
|
2006 |
1,215 |
|
2007 |
1,181 |
|
2008 |
1,176 |
(Source: CSO).
466 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of animals in the dairy herd; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26399/09]
View answerThe table that follows this reply sets out the number of animals in the dairy herd in each of the last ten years. The size of the herd has decreased each year except for 2001 and 2008, when there were increases on the previous year. Overall, there was a 7% decline in numbers between 1999 and 2008.
|
Year |
No. in Dairy Herd |
|
(‘000 head) |
|
|
1999 |
1,201 |
|
2000 |
1,178 |
|
2001 |
1,183 |
|
2002 |
1,164 |
|
2003 |
1,156 |
|
2004 |
1,156 |
|
2005 |
1,114 |
|
2006 |
1,109 |
|
2007 |
1,087 |
|
2008 |
1,113 |
(Source: CSO).
467 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the sheep population here; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26400/09]
View answerThe following table sets out CSO figures for the sheep population in Ireland, in June of each year, for the past ten years:
|
Year |
Total sheep |
|
(000 head) |
|
|
1998 |
8,312.0 |
|
1999 |
7,925.5 |
|
2000 |
7,555.0 |
|
2001 |
7,330.3 |
|
2002 |
7,209.6 |
|
2003 |
6,848.9 |
|
2004 |
6,777.2 |
|
2005 |
6,392.2 |
|
2006 |
5,973.2 |
|
2007 |
5,521.6 |
|
2008 |
5,061.4 |
The report of the Sheep Strategy Development Group charts the correct way forward for the sector. My Department and the agencies under its aegis have made considerable progress in implementing the report's recommendations that are within their remit. These include the establishment of Sheep Ireland to take over my Department's current breed improvement programme and develop a new programme; the establishment of an additional supplementary measure under REPS 4 to promote mixed grazing of cattle and sheep; the development of a trial on the feasibility of mechanical classification for lamb, the results of which are currently being examined; the establishment of a Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme in 2007, which now has over 7000 participants; and the development of a comprehensive programme by Teagasc to improve the management and husbandry of flocks. The actions being taken by my Department and the State agencies under my aegis complement those being taken by the industry. I am confident that taken together, all of these actions will be of significant benefit to the sector. The sheep sector benefits significantly from the main schemes operated by my Department — the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. I took account of the needs of this sector when I decided that the €7 million available from the National Reserve in 2009 should be used on a new Uplands Sheep Payment, which is expected to benefit approximately 14,000 hill sheep farmers. Bord Bia will spend up to €1 million on the promotion of sheep and lamb at home and abroad in 2009. Teagasc has allocated almost €1.5 million for sheep research. Under the final agreement on the CAP Health Check, Ireland will have access to additional funds of approximately €25 million annually from unspent CAP funds from 2010. These funds can be used to address specific disadvantages affecting farmers in a number of sectors including the sheep sector. My main priority in allocating these funds is to ensure they are used in the most efficient and effective manner for the development of Irish agriculture. As I have already indicated, the sheep sector will be a substantial beneficiary. I hope to announce details in the coming weeks.
