Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total acreage of potatoes grown here to date in 2005; if the trend is on the increase or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26769/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The results of the 2005 census of potato production will not be available until later this year. The area of potatoes grown fluctuated between 13,173 hectares in 2000 and 13,725 hectares in 2003. In 2004 the area fell by 8% to 12,604 hectares. Despite the reduced area, exceptionally high yields resulted in over-supply and depressed prices to producers. As 2004 was the second successive year of poor farm gate prices, it is estimated that the 2005 production area has fallen by a further 8% to 10% to 11,500 hectares. With yields in the region of 40 tonnes per hectare, the 2004 output amounted to 506,533 tonnes. As growing conditions this year were not as favourable, the pre-harvest indications are that yields will be in the region of 35 tonnes per hectare, giving a gross output of around 400,000 tonnes.