Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 611: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numbers of jobs that have been created in the food processing sector from 2005 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31514/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The data below on employment in the manufacture of food and beverages is taken from the CSO's Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). The QNHS does not enumerate the number of jobs created or lost in any given sector, rather it presents the level in terms of the numbers employed in the sector. The following table give details in terms of the numbers employed for the most recent complete 5-year period available as well as the most recent quarterly update for Q1 2010. Over the period it shows that employment in the sector has reduced by some 20%. However, overall the wider agri-food sector remains a significant source of employment and accounted for 151,500 jobs or 7.8% of employment in 2009.

2005-2009 are Quarterly Averages