Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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796. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment continues in the agri-food and fishing sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53549/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continually monitors the levels of employment in the agriculture and wider agri-food sector. Employment figures are primarily sourced from the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) quarterly Labour Force Survey.

Looking at trends over the period 2019 to 2021, employment in the overall agri-food sector has grown by 6,400 to 170,400 people. This represents 7.1% of the total workforce. The average numbers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing were 107,000 in 2021, (+4,500 over the period 2019 to 2021) with 49,650 employed in the manufacture of food products (+850). There were 7,750 employed in the manufacture of beverages (+1,000) and about 6,000 employed in the wood and wood-processing sector.

It should be noted that the Labour Force Survey is based on the main employment a person reports in the survey. Where a part-time farmer reports their off-farm job as their main employment, they will not be recorded as working in primary agriculture. Teagasc in their annual National Farm Survey outline that up to 34% of farm holders have off-farm employment, while 54% of farm holders and/or their spouse has an off-farm employment.

It is also important to note that while the overall level of employment from these sectors is 7.1% of total employment nationwide, the proportion of employment outside Dublin is much greater. For example, CSO data shows that in the border region the agri-food sector employment accounted for 14.2% of overall employment and accounted for over 12% in the south-east region.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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797. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to advise the farming community regarding optimum levels of fertiliser permissible, in order to meet land fertility requirements and emission reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53550/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is the competent authority for Statutory Instrument (S.I.) Number 113 of 2022; the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022. These Regulations give effect to Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme.

My Department works closely with DHLGH on the Regulations and development, as well as implementation, of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme.

The technical tables in Schedule 2 of S.I. No. 113 of 2022 set out the maximum permissible limits of nitrogen and phosphorous fertiliser allowed for agricultural crops. These provide the optimum nutrient requirements for crop growth.

The associated technical tables within S.I. No. 113 of 2022 are based on scientific research outcomes primarily guided by Teagasc, the State agency providing research, advisory and training services to the agri-food industry. In July 2020 Teagasc published their most recent edition of "Major and micro nutrient advice for productive agricultural crops". This book provides advice on crop fertiliser requirements.

Under Ireland's 5^thNitrates Action Programme, which came into effect earlier this year, the maximum chemical nitrogen allowances for grassland were reduced by 10%. In addition to contributing to improved water quality, this measure will provide an associated co-benefit of reducing national greenhouse gas emissions.

My Department informs the agricultural advisory services, which include Teagasc, the Agricultural Consultants Association and other private agricultural advisors, on any regulatory changes regarding nutrient allowances. Additionally, all agricultural advisors working on Department schemes, are Farm Advisory Service accredited, to ensure a consistent understanding and the provision of appropriate nutrient advice to farmers.