Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
349. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects agricultural production to increase throughout each sector in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13356/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTargets for agri-food growth were set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am confident that they are fully achievable over the next five years. As the deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are, by 2020, to increase the value of:
- Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33%
- Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%
- Value added production by 40%;
Progress on these targets is monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis and the most recent data indicates that the value of primary production had almost reached its target by 2014, up 31% compared to the 33% target; exports had grown by 27%, also by 2014, compared to their 2020 growth target of 42%; and GVA had grown by 29%, by 2012 (the most recent year’s data), compared with the target of 40%. In addition, Food Harvest 2020 also had set a target of increasing the volume of dairy production by 50% by 2020, the removal of the milk quota limits from tomorrow will allow milk levels to increase by that amount over the next five years.
Based on these statistics, all targets are currently well on track to be achieved over the next five years.
Nonetheless, I regard it as prudent to continually review the internal and external environment so that we will continue to maximise the opportunities available to this indigenous sector. To that end, I have appointed a 2025 Agri-Food Strategy Committee to report back to me by end June with any key recommendations and actions they consider necessary to allow us set ever more challenging goals for the longer term.
