Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1013: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the land area involved in organic production here in 2009 and for each of the past ten years; the land area involved in organic production in the EU in 2009 and for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38012/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Details of the land area certified as organic in Ireland and the total in the EU in the years 2000 to 2005 are set out in the table. More recent information in the EU total is not yet to hand. Details of the land area certified as organic in Ireland from 2006 to 2009 are also included.

While the size of the organic sector in Ireland is below the EU average, there continue to be signs of growth. The total area in conversion or with full organic status rose by over 3,600 hectares in 2008, an increase of almost 9%. The most recent figures available for 2009 indicate that this trend is continuing, with an increase in 2009 of almost 3,000 hectares to date.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1014: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of producers involved in organic production in 2009 and for each of the past ten years; the number of producers in the EU in 2009 and for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38013/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The numbers of organic producers in Ireland for the years 2000 to 2009 are shown in the table. The number of producers in the EU as a whole in the years 2003 and 2005 are also shown. EU figures for other years could not be verified in the time available but I will communicate directly to the Deputy any further information that comes to hand.