Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:78 Mr. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the current number of farmers; the number ten, 20, and 30 years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5503/99]
Written Answers. - Farmer Numbers.
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. Information is available on the number of farms rather than farmers. The most recent estimate of the number of farms in the State relates to June 1997.
|
Year |
Number of farms (1) |
|
1977 (2) |
225,000 (3) |
|
1987 |
217,000 (1) |
|
1997 |
147,800 (3) |
Source : CSO Farm Structure Surveys.
(1) Operating farms of 1 hectare or more (including smaller intensive units).
(2) Farm structure surveys commenced in 1975. Hence no comparable figures for 1967 are available.
(3) A more rigorous methodology was adopted during the 1991 census of agriculture. This caused a discontinuity with earlier estimates which resulted in a reduction in the number of farms of the order of 30,000.