Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1364. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps taken to future-proof existing policy to deal with labour shortages in the dairy sector. [38474/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the issues facing the entire farming sector, particularly dairy, in relation to the impact of the availability of sufficiently skilled labour. The ambitious growth targets for the sector laid out in Food Harvest 2020(FH2020) and Food Wise 2025 (FW2025) will require the availability of a dynamic and adequately skilled labour force in order to come to fruition. The tightening situation in the dairy sector is of course influenced by the broader economy and the increasing competition for labour from other sectors.

The expansion of the dairy sector, as envisaged in FH2020 and FW2025 is resulting in an increase in the numbers of cows being milked by individual farmers. The general rule is that a single labour unit can handle 80-100 cows effectively. The increase in cow numbers is causing a demand for additional personnel. However the lack of people with the necessary skills to work and manage these dairy farms has the potential to hinder development in the sector.

My Department has formulated a number of responses to this, including the commissioning of Teagasc to conduct research into the factors affecting the labour shortage in the dairy sector in order to inform the development of the necessary interventions. My Department has also conducted workshops with industry stakeholders from which recommendations were made to the High Level Implementation Committee for Food Wise 2025 which are currently being examined.

My Department also co-funds a milking skills training course run by Teagasc and Farm Relief Services aimed at providing the necessary skills to ensure efficient milking on an expanded scale.

Data from Teagasc shows that the number of graduates from Agricultural Colleges actively seeking employment in the dairy industry is lower than might be expected. Teagasc is keeping this issue under continuous review and I intend to have the matter considered by the High Level Implementation Group of Foodwise 2025.