A continuing sharp decline in the number of farmers was predicted by the Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture, Mr Paul Connaughton, during a debate on his party's Private Member's motion on agriculture.

The motion, on which debate will continue tonight, condemns the Government's performance and calls for measures to improve the industry.

"Farmers are bemused when they hear of the tiger economy," Mr Connaughton said. "All farmers know is that the tiger's footprints are not to be found on the fields of Ireland."

People were leaving the land at an alarming rate, he said. There were 220,655 farmers in 1981, but 152,909 now.

"In every county I travel to, I am consistently reminded about the absolute reluctance of many young people to go into farming. Many fathers and mothers are turning prematurely grey trying to convince their son or daughter to stay.

"The more successful the economy becomes, the more job opportunities become available, the more difficult it is for young farmers to earn an income comparable to what other family members are capable of earning."

He urged the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, to "put his house in order."

He said the Agenda 2000 proposals, as currently outlined, would remove over £250 million annually from the economy, but even worse would cripple certain sections of Irish agriculture, the most obvious being the beef industry.

Mr Connaughton said he had seldom, if ever, heard the Taoiseach talk about agriculture, while nobody expected that the PDs would be any good for the industry.

Meanwhile, the three independent TDs supporting the Government seemed to have "gone deaf and dumb" as well, he added.

"I have to ask Deputies Fox, Blaney and Healy-Rae today: have you not got farmers who have problems with pollution on their farms? Have you dairy farmers who may be wiped out if they cannot get their dairy hygiene side of things in order?

"You must surely have many young farmers who are wondering about the commitment of the Government to try and get any young person back into farming in so far as the cessation of the installation aid scheme is concerned."

The Minister, Mr Walsh, said he rejected the opposition criticisms in the strongest possible terms, adding that the total expenditure by his Department last year exceeded £2 billion. All of it had been spent on supporting farmers and the agrifood sector: £941 million on direct payments to farmers; £783 million on market supports; £196 million on farm investment grants and disease controls; while £122 million, representing less than 6 per cent, was spent on administration of the Department.

He said the contribution of direct payments to aggregate farm income had been rising steadily in recent years, from 12 per cent in 1989 to 47 per cent last year.

"However, in disbursing public funds, both EU and national, we are obliged to ensure that such funding is made strictly in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements."

He said farmers had benefited substantially from last year's supplementary vote for agriculture of £63 million. This year's Budget had also brought changes to the tax regime including concessions on stock relief, capital write-offs under the farm pollution control scheme and VAT changes.

The Labour spokesman on agriculture, Mr Willie Penrose, said the Department's recently launched customer service action plan was commendable but ineffective.