Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on introducing measures to alleviate the situation whereby increasing numbers of farmers are engaging in off farm employment that inevitably leads to increasing churn rates away from agriculture, in order to increase on farm investment, to include new on farm enterprise developments whereby farmers, can achieve higher returns for use of the land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9816/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The on-going trend towards part-time farming reflects a combination of factors including the increased availability of off-farm employment. Many small-scale producers find that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure their continued viability in farming. 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. In this regard, the Government is providing considerable funding through the National Development Plan 2007-2013 to encourage increased investment and market driven production. This Government is focused on ensuring that farming families have the best possible options available for them to stay on the land. That may mean as full-time farmers, if their farm size and resources are sufficient, and if they choose that option. Alternatively it may be through the combination of on-farm and off-farm income, which many smaller farmers are finding as the best route to a viable life on the land. The commitment of this Government is to support and encourage our farm families in whichever option they choose.