Horticultural acreage and growth targets
The Minister reported about 95,000 acres in horticulture, including 900 acres under glass, and cited the five-year development programme. He forecast 7% growth in production and value in 1989 and 350 jobs created in 1988.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total acreage of agricultural land devoted to horticulture; of this, the total area under glass; the measures, if any, which are planned to increase both the overall acreage devoted to horticulture and specifically the area under glass; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
The total acreage devoted to horticulture including potatoes in 1988 was about 95,000, of which 900 acres related to glasshouse crops.
The Government are strongly committed to the development of the horticulture industry. I would refer the Deputy to the Programme for the Development of Horticulture which was published by An Bord Glas in November last, copies of which were sent to all Deputies and are also available in the Oireachtas Library. This programme sets out details of a five-year plan aimed at developing the potential of horticulture. The targets for the industry are a combined domestic market share recovery and export expansion of £58 million and the creation of 1,750 full-time and 1,500 part-time jobs. I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the breakdown of these targets.
The following is the statement:—
With regard to a specific query in the question from the Deputy I can tell him that, subject to the approval of the EC, it is proposed to introduce from 1 April 1989 a 25 per cent grant scheme for the replacement and renewal of greenhouses and to avail of natural gas as recommended in the programme.
Comment on this
I welcome the Minister's reply in so far as he states that a programme has been drawn up. Nevertheless, at this time, would the Minister agree that the progress is a bit slow? The latest figure for the importation of vegetables and fruit, May 1988, was 453,506 tonnes valued at £187.9 million. In view of the fact that we have land capable of growing these products and have established An Bord Glas, would the Minister not say what the target is? By how much within the next 12 months is it proposed to increase the number of jobs or to create jobs in the horticultural business?
Comment on this
Contrary to what the Deputy might say, it is estimated that 1989 will see a 7 per cent increase in both production and value in the horticultural sector. The estimated value of horticulture in 1989 is £140 million. We estimate that 350 full-time jobs were created in the sector in 1988.