Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In March this year, the Central Statistics Office, CSO, released its preliminary estimate of output, input and income in agriculture for 2017, and this shows that aggregate farm income, or operating surplus, increased by 35.2% to €3.498 million in 2017. This followed an increase of 3.6% in 2016. The value of goods output for the sector increased by 13.6% to €8.016 million. Teagasc's national farm survey for 2016 showed that average family farm income was €23,848, which is made up of an average of €46,561 for fulltime farmers and €11,086 for part-time farmers. It should also be noted that there are significant differences in family farm income depending on the system of farming and the size of the farm.

Teagasc's detailed national farm survey for 2017 will be published next month. Teagasc estimated last December that average farm income for 2017 could reach almost €32,000, which would represent an average increase of 30% over 2016. Aggregate and average farm income is not calculated at county level, so it is not possible to give details of farm income for County Kildare. The Food Wise 2025 strategy includes actions to support farmers in improving the competitiveness and profitability of their enterprises. This includes actions aimed at helping farmers to manage the impact of price volatility; improving productivity and adapting new technology; and incentivising land mobility and farm restructuring. These supports will make Irish farm enterprises more competitive and sustainable and maximise their contribution to regional and local rural economies.

There are a number of competitiveness recommendations and actions being progressed through the Food Wise 2025 high level implementation committee, HLIC. I chair the committee, which is made up of high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies. It reviews progress on the detailed actions on a quarterly basis. Stakeholders regularly present to the committee on priorities for particular sectors or themes and competitiveness will be a theme for the June meeting. I will also be publishing Steps to Success 2018, the third progress report of Food Wise 2025, in July and this will include a report on progress on the various competitiveness actions.

See this speech in context