Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of jobs that have been created in the marine processing sector since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31512/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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BIM has provided estimated figures for employment in the seafood processing sector. There has been a decrease in the numbers employed in the fish processing sector from 2,205 full-time and 1302 part-time employed in 2005 to 2,150 full-time and 380 part-time employed at the end of 2009. This ongoing reduction is mainly in part-time employment due to less fish being processed, process plant consolidation and the upgrading of plants with automation. While there are a reductions in part-time operation staff, there are more full time specialists being employed in quality control, business development and marketing.