asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a statement by Mr. Donal Cashman, President of the IFA, that farmers' incomes in the Republic of Ireland would need to increase by 28.7 per cent to pay them for their increased production costs and loss in income over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Farmers' Incomes.
376.
In the recent EEC price negotiations we have secured very substantial increases in prices of agricultural products for Irish farmers. In addition, I have negotiated special measures for Ireland which will help to stimulate a return to the levels of productivity in the agricultural sector that obtained before the recession. The overall package involves the very significant benefit of some £235 million in a full year to the agricultural sector and should result in a welcome increase in real farm income in 1982 as compared with the reductions which occurred in the past few years.