The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Farm Structure Survey in 2007 indicated that there were 21,300 farms with dairy cows in the State, of which 19,400 were classified as specialist dairy farms under the farm typology classification (i.e. dairying was estimated to account for two thirds or more of the total gross margin on the farm). It was estimated that there were 43,700 people employed on specialist dairy farms, comprising of 19,100 holders, 8,300 spouses of holders, 12,800 other family members and 3,500 regular non-family workers.
The June 2010 Census of Agriculture recorded a total of 27,414 farms with dairy cows. However, this includes many small dairy herds; 18,458 farms had 10 or more dairy cows. Data on the farm typology and farm labour force in 2010 is being compiled and will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. The annual Census of Industrial Production provides detailed structural statistics on manufacturing industry, including the dairy sector which comprises the Operation of Dairies, Cheese Making and the Manufacture of Ice-cream. There were 5,040 persons engaged in the dairy sector in 2008 and this fell to 4,922 in 2009. Corresponding data for 2010 will be published by June 2012.