Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52176/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are over 16,000 specialist dairying farms accounting for 12% of all farms. The majority of specialist dairying farms, over three quarters are located in the Southern and Eastern region.

The Department does not hold specific records on an annual basis categorised by county as sought by the Deputy.

The next definitive data on the number of dairy farms by county will be available from the CSO, when the results of the Census of Agriculture 2020 are finalised and published.

However, the following table shows an estimate by my Department of dairy herds broken down by county in 2019. The Deputy should note that this is an estimated figure extrapolated from ongoing work and is subject to revision and therefore should be interpreted as indicative only. Updated data can be provide to the Deputy’s office once verification is complete.