Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers who have left full-time farming since 1997; her views on the fall in the number of full-time farmers; the steps she is taking to deal with the drift from the land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17369/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent figures available from the CSO show that there were 77,900 full-time farmers — as defined by the CSO — in 2003, a drop of 20,400 since 1997. Over the same period the number of part-time farmers increased by 7,900 to 57,200. The agri vision 2015 committee indicated in its report that the trend to part-time farming — using a somewhat different definition than the CSO — will continue.

The ongoing trend towards part-time farming reflects a combination of factors including the increased availability of off-farm employment. Many smaller farmers are finding that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure their viability on the land. At the same time, full-time farmers are looking to the new flexibility offered to them under decoupling to develop and intensify their commercial farm enterprises.