Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:72 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of full-time farmers, according to his Department's records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20836/02]
Written Answers. - Farmer Statistics.
The most recent statistics available from the Central Statistics Office are for 1999 and estimate that of a total of 143,700 farmers – 87,500 were full-time and 56,200 were part-time. The Government is committed to maintaining the greatest number of family farms through the development of competitive full-time farming, while at the same time providing an economic environment which enables other farmers avail of both on and off-farm opportunities to secure their future.