Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
570. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of employment currently given throughout the food industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14887/16]
View answerThe latest data from the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (Q1 2016) show that 53,000 people are employed in the Food and Beverage processing sector. The QNHS shows that employment in the agri-food sector overall, and in its component parts, stood at 165,700. Based on this data, the sector represents circa 8.4% of national employment. The CSO figures are based on sample surveys.
Food Wise 2025, the ten-year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July 2015, builds on the successful vision of Food Harvest 2020. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agri-food sector all along the supply chain, from primary production to Food and Beverage Processing and high value-added product development.
