Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1041: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numbers in employment in the food processing sector in 2009; the numbers in employment in the food processing sector in each of the past ten years; the numbers in employment in overall industry in 2009; the numbers in employment in overall industry in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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CSO data (Quarterly National Household Survey) for Quarter 2, 2009 shows there were approximately 47,500 people employed in the food and beverages sector out of a total of over 258,000 employed in overall industry (defined as NACE sectors B to E inclusive). The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publishes data on employment in the agrifood sector based on two sources, primarily the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and also the CSO Census of Industrial Production (CIP). This data is published in the Compendium of Agriculture Statistics on an annual basis. The Compendium is available under the Publications section of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie

Methodological differences between the QNHS and CIP mean that these datasets will not be identical. The tables below gives detailed breakdowns of published data for both these datasets in relation to the most recent 10-year periods available under the given survey/census. Both sets of data indicate that food and beverage production accounts for approaching one-fifth of employment in the manufacturing industry sector.

Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) Data

Census of Industrial Production (CIP) Data