asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the finding of the Farm Management Survey for 1977 which shows that, while farmers in Munster and Leinster had an average increase in family farm income last year of 44 per cent, farmers in Connacht had an increase in average income of less than 1 per cent, while the average income for farmers in the Ulster counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan actually fell by 16 per cent below the 1976 level; and if, in view of these alarming findings, he has made any recommendations for a drastic change in Government policy in regard to agriculture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Management Survey.
10.
The data to which the Deputy refers are based on a rather limited sample of full-time farmers in the farm management survey. To get a balanced picture of the situation, it is necessary to look at the trends over a reasonable period of time. Thus, the figures given for 1977 should be related to the trends in previous years covered by the sample of farms. These trends show that between 1972 and 1976 incomes in the three counties of Ulster increased by 246 per cent and in Connacht by 161 per cent against increases of 118 per cent for Munster and 99 per cent for Leinster. Thus, the farmers in the western counties have shared fully in the growth in prosperity of Irish agriculture over recent years.
As already announced, the Government intend to introduce shortly a scheme for accelerating drainage in the western counties and discussions have been taking place in Brussels on the formulation by the Commission of a package of measures aimed at improving the structural position of agriculture in the west of Ireland.
Am I to take it that the Minister is satisfied with these figures as adduced for 1977, figures which may undoubtedly have come from a rather small sample? Are they in fact an exaggeration of the situation? Do they give a false picture of the situation and are we not to take any cognisance really of these figures?
It is necessary to have regard, first of all, to the fact that the percentages we are talking about are always based on the percentages for the previous years. It would be worth the House's while to have regard to the fact that in 1973 there was an increase of 58.9 per cent. In the following year, 1974, there was a drop of 31.7 per cent. In the year after that, 1975, there was an increase of 84.8 per cent and in 1976 there was an increase of 72.5 per cent. Last year there was a drop of 15.7 per cent. Taking the five years as a whole you have an increase of 245.8 per cent and, if you want to take an immediately pessimistic view, there is a drop from the very large increase of the previous years but that is not to say there is an overall drop. That would be equally incorrect.
Is the Minister aware of figures which point in a similar direction quoted in the National Economic and Social Council report indicating that over the period 1968-69 to 1972-73 there was a wide discrepancy in the rate of growth of output per adjusted acre in the western counties vis-à-vis the rest of the country in both income and production and would the Minister not agree that there is a need for, and this is something we all hope he will get, considerably increased EEC aid and Irish Government aid for agriculture in the western areas?
I certainly agree there are problems in the west that need to be tackled in a special way. That has always been the case.
Can we take it, despite what the Minister has said, which would appear to counter to a degree the findings of the 1977 report mentioned in the question, that he will accept the report and work on the basis that in Connacht and Ulster, even with this 240 per cent which he as ascribed to the Ulster counties and an increase of 161 per cent in the Connacht counties, these percentage increases have been from a very low base and so do not give a true picture? Even disagreeing with the 1977 figures, which the Minister appears to do, is it not a fact that we are starting with such a low base in the western counties as a whole that working on these figures would result in a totally false picture?
The figures are not completely false but they are completely incomplete, if the Deputy reads my meaning. What the Deputy says is quite right. There is a great deal more to it. There are chronic structural problems which have been there for a great many years.
Does the Minister hope to do something about them?
We have in the matter of drainage and farm infrastructure generally and we have fairly good reason to believe we have made progress.
Only after the Italians and the French got in first. That woke the Minister up.
Before we leave that question——
I would bring to the notice of the House the fact that we have had only ten questions answered in 43 minutes. I am calling Question No. 11.
Deputy Murphy represents a rural constituency and he is as entitled as any other Deputy to ask a supplementary question.
There are a number of questions on agriculture on the Order Paper and we have been dealing with just one question for ten minutes.
Sir, I want to know, with your permission——
I have called Question No. 11.
Deputy Murphy of the Labour Party represents a rural constituency. This is his first supplementary.
The Chair has decided there have been enough supplementary questions and I am calling Question No. 11.