Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 97: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide the value of dairy exports and also dairy products sold domestically for the years 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12695/12]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. Domestic production, Imports and Exports of Dairy Products, 2010 and 2011 (€m)1

It should be borne in mind that the supply available may be used for stock building, further processing or consumption. The best indicator of the value of dairy products sold domestically is available from the Household Budget Survey (HBS). The HBS is held every five years and the results of the most recent 2009/2010 survey will be published before the end of March 2012. This will give average weekly household expenditures on various commodities including dairy products. 1 Imports and Export figures exclude eggs and include casein (proteins found in milk) and baby food.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 98: To ask the Taoiseach the estimated number of persons employed in primary, secondary and tertiary employment within the dairy industry for the years 2008 to 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12696/12]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Farm Structure Survey in 2007 indicated that there were 21,300 farms with dairy cows in the State, of which 19,400 were classified as specialist dairy farms under the farm typology classification (i.e. dairying was estimated to account for two thirds or more of the total gross margin on the farm). It was estimated that there were 43,700 people employed on specialist dairy farms, comprising of 19,100 holders, 8,300 spouses of holders, 12,800 other family members and 3,500 regular non-family workers.

The June 2010 Census of Agriculture recorded a total of 27,414 farms with dairy cows. However, this includes many small dairy herds; 18,458 farms had 10 or more dairy cows. Data on the farm typology and farm labour force in 2010 is being compiled and will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. The annual Census of Industrial Production provides detailed structural statistics on manufacturing industry, including the dairy sector which comprises the Operation of Dairies, Cheese Making and the Manufacture of Ice-cream. There were 5,040 persons engaged in the dairy sector in 2008 and this fell to 4,922 in 2009. Corresponding data for 2010 will be published by June 2012.