Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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676. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the State veterinary laboratories he is considering to relocate, in tabular form; the location of each such laboratory; the areas to his Department has earmarked to relocate the laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9812/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department commissioned a Working Group, led by Prof. Alan Reilly, to undertake a comprehensive review of both its Central Laboratory Complex in Backweston, near Celbridge Co. Kildare and its Regional Laboratories. The names and locations of all of the regional laboratories that were considered as part of this review process are listed in the following table:

The Working Group has presented a report to the Department, which makes various recommendations for the future strategic development of the Laboratories, including on:  

- re-organisation of Divisions and support functions within the Central Laboratory complex and on  

- options for the future development of the Regional Laboratories.

The latter was focused on improving disease investigative and surveillance capability but with the over-riding imperative of maintaining and enhancing services to farmers.

A decision on any of the recommendations in the review will await the outcome of the consultative process, currently ongoing. In the case of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories, any decision will also be informed by a cost benefit analysis of the various options that have been proposed for their future development.

My Department's regional laboratories are located as follows: