Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:58 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total number now employed in the banking industry; the numbers employed in it in 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Baking Industry.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:59 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the rationalisation of the baking industry resulted in (a) more employment in the industry and (b) a reduction in the number of bakeries in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.
According to information supplied by the Central Statistics Office the number of persons employed in the baking industry at the end of March 1991, the last date for which figures are available, was 5,200. The number employed in the industry at the end of March 1986 was 7,000.
As these figures indicate there has been a reduction of 1,800 in the numbers employed in the industry since 1986. There has also been a reduction in the number of bakeries. This is in line with the trend envisaged in the report on the bakery industry which was published by the Sectoral Development Committee in 1990.
This has resulted from the need to reduce over-capacity and improve efficiency in the industry and, in the longer term, the rationalisation should result in a better and more market-led industry. This will help to provide more secure employment in the future.