Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers who are also engaged in off-farm employment; and the proportion of farm incomes generated in this way. [25405/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent figures available from the Central Statistics Office are for the year 2005 and these show that there were 73,500 farmers whose sole occupation was farming or 56% of the total and 58,900 with another either major or subsidiary occupation.

Special analysis of the EU-SILC 2006 is used to estimate total farm household income and the proportion arising from farming activities. Using a broad definition of farm households (any household with an income from farming) total farm household income was estimated at €58,031 with 36% coming from farming activities, 46% from other employment, 15% from state transfers and 3% other direct income. A narrower definition of farm household (which would exclude some part-time farmers) estimates total farm household income to be €47,703 with 54% coming from farming, 27% from off-farm earnings, 17% from state transfers and 3% other sources. (The average household income for the state was €54,906).