asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans he and the Council of Ministers have to address the increasing disparity of incomes between the dairy farming sector and other sectors.
Written Answers. - Income Disparities.
84.
During the course of negotiations for the 1989-90 prices package, the Minister for Agriculture and Food will ensure that the best interests of all farmers, including those in the non-dairy sector, are served. The farm income survey published by the then An Foras Talúntais shows that an improvement of 30 per cent took place in average farm incomes in that year and present indications are that farmers are benefiting from a further significant income improvement this year. As regards the disparity between sectors, AFT (now TEAGASC) National Farm Survey results for 1987 indicate that the improvement in incomes in the non-dairy sector was greater than that which occurred in dairying.